Stollery Hospital improves Emergency Department mental health support

Broken bones and injuries are common reasons for emergency room visits. But Edmonton’s Stollery Children’s Hospital is getting a financial boost for emergency mental health calls.

“If you are having mental health concerns, where do you go, how do you get the support and the resources you need. By bringing this funding to the emergency department, it really does provide this beautiful access place that people can get the services and the help they need when they need it,” said Jennifer Hutchinson, Senior 12 Development Officer at the Stollery Children’s Hospital.

The Stollery Children’s Hospital receives new funding from the Family of Support Campaign to increase the capacity and access to mental health services in the Emergency Department.

The funding from the Family of Support Campaign will increase capacity for mental health patients at the Stollery.

Already, the hospital responds to more than 2,300 mental health-related patient visits every year, with funding also going towards training of staff on the best ways to support those going through a mental health crisis.

“All around it will support so many people, so many children will benefit from this funding,” said Hutchinson.

Since 2020, the family of support campaign has raised $17 million for 13 children’s hospitals across Canada.