The Garry Hurvitz Centre for Community Mental Health at SickKids (GH-CCMH) is pleased to announce a new day treatment program for youth who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ and are experiencing significant mental health challenges.
Working in partnership with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), the program offers a safer space that recognizes the barriers that exist for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in a cisgendered, heteronormative society.
“This program is one way to address the need for mental health services designed for specific populations,” says Aparna Kajenthira, Manager, Intensive Services for Youth, GH-CCMH. “Youth who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ may not have affirming spaces or supports in their educational environments. This lack of access or isolation from community can further compound mental health concerns these youth are experiencing.”
Starting this September, clients accepted into the program will attend academic classes in a GH-CCMH classroom at Jarvis Collegiate Institute (JCI) with in-class support and attend therapy and counselling sessions at our Jarvis location across the street from JCI. The classroom at JCI is for grades 9 to 12 and will include two staff: a teacher from the TDSB and a child and youth care practitioner from GH-CCMH to lend support to help the clients function in the classroom setting.
This program offers a supportive environment for clients to receive individualized therapy and counselling, to discuss issues, to assist in developing and reaching personal goals, and to work on academic skills and building positive classroom relationships. The program is embedded within our Intensive Services for Youth (ISFY) and so also offers family/caregiver-focused supports and peer-led groups as well as access to the full spectrum of ISFY treatment options.
Clients are supported by a team of professionals (including social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and child and youth care practitioners) and will work with this team to support the development of their treatment plan.
For referrals, contact the Mental Health Access Program at 416-924-1164, ext. 8708, or email mentalhealthaccess@sickkidscmh.ca.
The Garry Hurvitz Centre for Community Mental Health at SickKids is part of the SickKids mental health continuum of services including hospital services and the TeleLink Mental Health Program which offers both urban and rural telepsychiatry virtual services.
To arrange a referral to hospital outpatient services, call the Mental Health Access Program at 416-813-7005.
For inquiries concerning services in the TeleLink Mental Health Program, call 1-877-507-7301.
For information regarding all Toronto child mental health services, visit mentalhealthTO.ca.
