March 10, 2023
CALGARY – Calgary and area youth and their families will have improved access to publicly funded mental health services with the opening of a new, $39-million mental health facility in the city’s northwest.
The Summit: Marian & Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience will open its doors to children, teenagers and families on Monday, March 13, at 10 a.m. Healthcare teams will offer three mental health services under one roof for people up to and including 18 years of age, with the goal of reducing incidence of mental health crises through early intervention and effective treatment.
The new centre will support about 8,000 patients and families every year, which is net-new capacity.
“Just as physical health issues rely on experts to fix and heal, mental health challenges require the specialized skills of psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists,” says Jason Copping, Minister of Health. “The urgent and intensive care The Summit will offer provides children and teens with expertise and in an environment tailored for them to succeed.”
“Many mental health challenges begin at a young age, and children and youth in Alberta deserve the very best care,” says Nicholas Milliken, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction. “We’re proud to support much-needed services for young Albertans, delivered right in the community. This is one more step in building comprehensive recovery-oriented systems of care in Alberta.”
The Summit was built in partnership between Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation (ACHF). The foundation raised more than $50 million to fund construction of the centre, as well as innovative program and research enhancements.
“Thanks to our wonderful community, young people now have a place just for them, specially designed to help them grow stronger and more resilient,” says Saifa Koonar, President and CEO of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. “We hope every person who walks through the Summit doors will feel all the love and support that has gone into creating it.”
Mauro Chies, interim AHS President and CEO, says the Summit’s services will augment and integrate with a continuum of existing services provided by AHS and community-based agencies. “Having all these mental health services under one roof will make it easier for children, youth, and their families to access the care they need,” Chies says.
The Summit offers the following services:
Overnight stays will not be part of care provided at the new facility. Patients being admitted to hospital will continue to be cared for at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
In partnership with AHS and the University of Calgary, The Summit will be one of the most research-intensive, community-based mental health facilities for young people in Canada. This component will be key in developing, testing, and refining new clinical interventions while providing the best in mental healthcare and supports.
“The Summit will incorporate accessible mental healthcare with leading-edge research, so we can mobilize academic insights into the best possible clinical care for children and youth,” says University of Calgary President Ed McCauley. “The University of Calgary is honoured to be a part of this historic milestone for child and youth mental health in southern Alberta.”
The Summit will partner with community agencies that will run specialized clinics from the centre.
Julia Caddy, a member of the AHS Youth Advisory Council, believes the Summit will significantly improve access to mental health services for young people. “My hope is that kids will see how welcoming The Summit is and will reach out for help way sooner than I did,” says Caddy. “We want young people to know that they are not alone. They can find the support they need right here, every day of the week.”
Visit www.ahs.ca/ccamh to learn more about the centre. Visit www.buildthemup.ca to learn more about supporting mental health initiatives for young people in our community.
The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation inspires our community to invest in excellence in child health, research, and family-centred care. Through the generosity of donors, the foundation provides funding for innovative programs, state-of-the-art equipment, advanced medical training and internationally recognized pediatric research.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait-times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
