BACK TO HOSPITAL LISTING
TOTAL FUNDS RECEIVED TO DATE
$801,578
3,934
Assessments
581
People trained
2,920
Patients served
Program overview
Over the past several years, CHEO’s Emergency Department (ED) has seen more children and youth presenting with suicidal ideation and attempts. In response, CHEO has developed a range of programs and interventions to enhance care for children at risk of or in the early stages of mental health challenges. In addition to aiding two programs, Family of Support funds have helped to increase mental health resources in the ED.
Head to Toe (H2T)
H2T is a suicide screening program for all admitted, inpatient youth 12 and older. If a patient answers “yes” to any of the questions in the validated screening tool, nurses facilitate a mental health assessment. The screening aims to ensure that care teams never miss an opportunity to provide suicide-prevention support.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
The DBT program was developed to address the needs of adolescents who have difficulty regulating their emotions, resulting in chronic or repeated suicidal ideation, self-injury, family conflict, and school problems. The CHEO DBT team provides training in the hospital and in the community.
Child and Youth Counsellor (CYC) in the ED
Family of Support has helped to fund the presence of a dedicated mental health-focused CYC in the ED, 24/7. This around-the-clock presence ensures specialized care for patients who present at the ED in mental health crisis and supports allied care professionals.
How Family of Support Funding Has Helped
Family of Support funds have helped CHEO to:
- Gain the flexibility to adopt a new evidence-based intervention (H2T)
- Extend the benefits of dialectical behavioural therapy beyond the hospital and into the community
- Expand the hours during which mental health support is available in the ED.
