BACK TO HOSPITAL LISTING
TOTAL FUNDS RECEIVED TO DATE
$1,202,091
26,570
Assessments
1,408
People trained
37,217
Patients served
9
Treatment spaces
Program overview
Difficulties accessing early mental health interventions mean that many young patients in crisis turn to Emergency Departments (EDs). As the only specialized pediatric ED in northern Alberta, the Stollery Emergency responds to as many as 2,300 mental health-related patient visits each year. In addition to increasing capacity to respond to immediate mental health needs in the ED, the Stollery has been making changes to meet non-emergency needs in a more timely way.
Interdisciplinary team for timely, appropriate care
A multidisciplinary mental health team is now integrated into the Stollery ED, including psychologists, therapists, and social workers. Together, they provide immediate care as necessary and redirect patients toward non-emergency services as appropriate.
Expanded training to increase mental health knowledge
The addition of two clinical nurse educators (CNEs) has provided enhanced mental health education to Stollery Emergency staff, patients, and families. The CNEs have provided mental health orientations and ongoing training to staff in the ED and created resources for families on topics such as anxiety and depression management skills.
Connecting families to community resources
Patients who present to the Stollery Emergency and are determined, through assessment at triage, to not require ED services, can choose to be diverted to an appointment with a mental health clinician at the Stollery walk-in clinic, typically the same day or within 48 hours.
How Family of Support Funding Has Helped
Family of Support funds have helped to:
- Support the development and operation of a mental health walk-in clinic
- Increase capacity at the Stollery Outpatient & Urgent Psychiatry Clinic
- Enhance care and prevent mental health-related escalations with enhanced training provided by the clinical nurse educators.
- Reduce wait times for patients and families through increased capacity and improved coordination.
