The Suroît Hospital Foundation has invested nearly $30,000 to modernize the outpatient youth and developmental mental health clinics, a necessary youth treatment to revitalize care environments for young people with mental health or developmental problems. 

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"Mental health is a priority for the Suroît Hospital Foundation. Rightly so, via the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign, we have raised $404,000 since 2018 to support projects to improve mental health care for young people. Today, we're pleased to announce the completion of one of these projects, which will enable young people to be treated in a warmer, more suitable environment," said Michèle Cyr-Lemieux, Executive Director of the Suroît Hospital Foundation.

Making mental health care attractive to young people

Professionals at CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest's outpatient youth and developmental mental health clinics have been looking at ways to make their services more child-friendly.

Having a more welcoming, soothing and secure treatment setting for young people and their families was immediately identified as an innovative solution to increase young people's adherence to their treatment.

"Thanks to the Suroît Hospital Foundation, young people who come to our outpatient clinics have a warm environment and tools (such as toys) to express their emotions and connect with their therapist. The integration of technology also makes it possible to hold group workshops with adolescents, and to better coordinate our intervention plans with a plurality of health professionals," emphasized Isabelle Papineau, Director of Youth Programs and Public Health Activities at CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest.

In addition to focusing on a wellness objective for young people, this project also helps de-stigmatize mental health problems and encourages adherence to the services offered. Over 700 young people a year are treated at the outpatient youth and developmental mental health clinics, and more than 28 health and support professionals work there.