Aider McMaster à rendre une aire de jeux possible pour les enfants souffrant de santé mentale.
Suicide is the leading cause of non-accidental death in children aged 15 – 19. As child and youth educators, OCTE's members know that caring for mental health care is just as important as physical. Thankfully, the stigma around mental illness is decreasing and more of our children and youth are seeking help. McMaster Children's Hospital's Child and Youth Mental Health Program is one of the largest in the country, supporting countless children and youth and their families with outpatient, inpatient, day treatment, and emergency mental health services.
OCTE has donated $5,000 to support the Mental Health Wellness Courtyard project. Research tells us about the positive relationship between physical activity, play, mindfulness and mental health. The planned Courtyard adjacent to the RBC Child and Youth Mental Health Inpatient Unit will provide a safe, therapeutic, outdoor environment for the more than 700 children and youth who are supported in the unit annually.
OCTE is proud to be able to support this amazing project and to do our part to help these courageous children, youth, and families. Attached is the thank you letter we received from the McMaster Children's Hospital Foundation and a picture of the planned Courtyard.
Text of letter appears below
January 18, 2018
Dave Graves
Ontario Council for Technology Education
192 King Street
P.O. Box 532
Burford, ON N01 1A0
Dear Dave,
I cannot thank you and everyone at the Ontario Council for Technology Education enough for supporting the Mental Health Courtyard and helping us move another step towards making this project a reality.
You have supported McMaster Children’s Hospital’s Mental Health program over the years and now you have made a special gift that is going to help build a Courtyard adjacent to our Mental Health Unit. Every gift to this campaign will live for decades through the thousands of children and youth that will be cared for at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
On behalf of the Foundation, the hospital staff and patients, thank you for investing in the children that we have the privilege to care for. I look forward to a formal cheque presentation and your attendance at the opening in the coming months. Please find enclosed your business receipt for your $5,000 gift toward the Courtyard.
Handwritten: Thanks so much!
Warmest regards,
Jennifer Laughton, CFRE
Vice President, McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation