By Effie Pow
—
Only one in five youths with a mental health illness access the care they need. Youth mental well-being and youth mental health services are critical areas of care identified by parents, youths, and experts.
Through the RBC Foundation and the RBC Future Launch grants, RBC supports more than 150 youth mental health organizations across Canada, making it one of the largest supporters of youth mental health well-being resources in Canada. RBC Youth Mental Well-being grants ensure youths and families benefit from having essential crisis support services when they need them the most.
Crisis Centre volunteer Mirrick Koh and Jeffrey Preiss, the Crisis Centre’s Director of Development and Communications, visited RBC’s Main Vancouver Branch team during their April employee appreciation week to talk about the Crisis Centre’s work. The RBC team heard about how the Centre engages with children and youth in schools and supports them through our crisis and suicide prevention phone lines and chat services.
“Our commitment to youth mental well-being is focused on prevention and early intervention programs that help provide young people timely access to knowledge, supports and care, when and where they need it,” said Jocelyn Tanaka, RBC Royal Centre Branch Manager. “Through our partnership with the Crisis Centre of BC, RBC Foundation will provide mental health supports and services to help address barriers including the low recognition of early signs and symptoms of mental health struggles, a lack of peer support networks and a disconnected system of care.”
Thank you to the RBC Foundation for the $25,000 project grant to support youth mental health services and youth education across BC.
The Crisis Centre will be part of the 2023 RBC We Care Wednesday campaign highlighting the efforts, impact, and achievements of ten charities at Vancouver Canadians games.
“As part of our RBC We Care Wednesday program we get the great opportunity to shine the light on some amazing charity organizations that exist in our community,” said Walter Cosman, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the Vancouver Canadians Professional Baseball Club.
“As a father of two teenage daughters, I know the prevalence of mental health challenges that exist in our community and I’m glad that there are organizations like the Crisis Center there to support them if needed.”
The Crisis Centre will be the featured charity at the May 31st Eugene Emeralds vs Vancouver Canadians game, with a portion of the proceeds from each ticket sold going to benefit the Centre.
—
The Crisis Centre of BC is committed to being there for people when they need it most. If you or someone you know is in crisis or considering suicide, please reach out:
- Anywhere in BC 1800SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433
- Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 (no area code required)