$1 million donation supports Transition Age Project

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Hospital Auxiliary donates gift shop proceeds to support family-centred mental health care

LONDON, Ont. - Today at London Health Sciences Centre's Victoria Hospital, LHSC Auxiliary President Isabel Wildfong-Martin announced a $1 million donation to support the Transition Age Project in the hospital's Mental Health Care Program.

The move of many of LHSC's Mental Health programs under one roof at Victoria Hospital last year has already enabled the hospital to provide a continuum of care for children, adolescents and adults, while retaining separate programs, including one floor in the North Tower (Zone B) that is dedicated to child and adolescent mental health and one dedicated to Adult Mental Health, with Adult Outpatient Services consolidated nearby in Zone A2. The Transition Age Project will enable a more seamless transition between these programs for clients.

By working with existing services within the hospital and in the community, this project will help those who have traditionally been caught between the worlds of child and adult care or have been followed in the child mental health system, and now - because of their age - must move to adult services.

The money for the donation is the result of proceeds raised from the three gift shops and one flower shop operated at LHSC's University Hospital and Victoria Hospital by Auxiliary volunteers. The stores run by the LHSC Auxiliary provide a valuable service by offering necessities for patients during hospital stays, snacks and items for visitors, and gifts to lift a patient's spirits.

The Auxiliary member's commitment as volunteers working in these shops, and their efficiency in raising funds is evident in the remarkable amount they have contributed to support the hospital, throughout the Auxiliary's more than 85 year history. In all, the Auxiliary has donated almost 7.7 million dollars towards care, innovation research and training at LHSC.

The Auxiliary works closely with London Health Sciences Foundation in understanding and directing their donations to programs and projects that will assist the doctors, nurses, researchers and staff in providing the best care today and in developing the best care for the future.

Since its inception, the LHSC Auxiliary has built a reputation for forward thinking. In 1930, the Auxiliary established the first scholarship for post-graduate nursing studies in North America. In 1931, they formed the first Ontario Cancer Control Committee to educate the public about cancer. Supporting mental health care initiatives, like the one announced today, is another example of the pioneering spirit of this dedicated volunteer organization.

Quotes:

"The LHSC Auxiliary's donation will help the Mental Health Care Program at London Health Sciences Centre as we partner with other agencies and service providers outside the hospital to build a better therapeutic system. The Transition Age Project will identify current services for clients between the ages of 16 and 25 in London-Middlesex and then, through partnerships, help link and coordinate existing services in the hospital and community, to best serve this important group during their transition to adult mental health care." Dr. Beth Mitchell, Director, Mental Health Care

"Our dedicated volunteers at LHSC Auxiliary voted unanimously to support the Transition Age Project at LHSC. We feel that early intervention and consultation is important to ensure good mental health in our youth and young adults, and supporting this LHSC initiative helps give them the best chance for success." Isabel Wildfong-Martin, President, London Health Sciences Centre Auxiliary

"Members of the LHSC Auxiliary embody the care and effort that makes our hospital so extraordinary. This gift to support Transition Age Project at London Health Sciences Centre's Mental Health Care Program is a continuation of the outstanding support and leadership which the Auxiliary has demonstrated throughout its history." Bonnie Adamson, President and CEO, London Health Sciences Centre

"We can't thank the Auxiliary volunteers enough for their valuable service and contributions to London Health Sciences Centre. The unique gifts offered in the Auxiliary stores simply make them a great place to shop for staff, patients and visitors alike. Most importantly, as we see with the extraordinary donation announced today, the proceeds from these shops continue to help our hospital provide the very best of patient and family-centred care." Sue Carlyle, Vice Chair, London Health Sciences Foundation

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See the Backgrounder on the Transition Age Project for more information.

London Health Sciences Foundation is a member of Imagine Canada and a Better Business Bureau accredited charity, linking our community and health care experts-including physicians, allied professionals, researchers, staff and educators-together in pursuit of medical excellence at London Health Sciences Centre. Established to strengthen LHSC's ability to provide the highest quality health care for patients in Southwestern Ontario and beyond, LHSF offers opportunities to enhance and advance health care by supporting discovery and innovation in research, education and patient care at our hospital.

Editors/News Directors: For more information contact:

Alexander Peterson

Public Relations Manager, London Health Sciences Foundation

519.685.8527                      alexander.peterson@lhsc.on.ca               www.lhsf.ca

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