Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation is grateful to receive an incredible $1-million gift from The Slaight Family Foundation to support the integration of physical and mental health care at UHN.
On March 10, The Slaight Family Foundation announced a $30-million commitment to support 19 Canadian organizations offering mental health services across the country.
Recognizing the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, this initiative will provide new or enhanced services to address the growing mental health needs for some of Canada’s most vulnerable populations.
“We know COVID-19 has exacerbated mental health issues across the country putting huge stress on our hospitals and organizations providing services,” says Gary Slaight, President and CEO of The Slaight Family Foundation. “We hope this support will help alleviate some of these stresses, reduce hospital visits, provide additional services for those in need of mental health support and develop new models of care and service for others to emulate.”
The portion of the gift directed to Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation will support the Mental Health in Medicine Clinic, which is transforming how patients with physical health conditions receive mental health care across UHN. Through the Clinic, patients will be able to access experts who specialize in managing mental health conditions that exist alongside complex medical conditions and receive assistance connecting with other community health partners. The Mental Health in Medicine Clinic will also empower UHN to identify patients experiencing a spectrum of mental health concerns and provide care that aligns with their physical and mental health needs.
“The Slaight Foundation’s gift will enhance the mental health care of individuals receiving medical and surgical care at UHN,” says Dr. Susan Abbey, Psychiatrist-in-Chief at UHN. “These individuals cross the age span from adolescence through late life, and there are currently few resources to meet their mental health needs.”
Over the last eight years, The Slaight Family Foundation has made significant contributions to support healthcare initiatives in the GTA and across Canada, including to UHN.