Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is commemorating Mental Health Month by helping to raise awareness about and funding solutions to mental health issues facing children and families.
World Mental Health Month is celebrated in The Bahamas during October.
World Mental Health Day, which is supported by the United Nations (UN), is celebrated internationally on October 10.
As part of the RBC Children’s Mental Health Project, RBC officials say they hope to partner with other organisations to enable children diagnosed with mental health disorders to overcome issues and focus on a positive future.
The RBC Children’s Mental Health Project is a global initiative.
The project was launched in 2008 in Canada.
Last year, the multimillion dollar charitable programme was extended to include The Bahamas and wider Caribbean region.
The project supports organisations dedicated to providing early intervention, increasing public awareness and reducing the stigma of mental illness.
RBC is now inviting non-governmental organisations and charitable organisations to submit proposals for funding.
RBC is interested in organisations that have existing, successfully implemented programmes with measurable results.
Although only six-years-old, the RBC Children’s Mental Health Project has committed more than $20 million to support early intervention and public education programmes.
The 2012 RBC Children’s Mental Health Project grant was awarded to the Bahamas Institute for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (BICAMH).
The grant funded BICAMH’s ‘Comprehensive Model for Treatment-Based Children’s Residential Homes’ project.
Dr. Ava Thompson, executive director/clinical psychologist, BICAMH, explained, “This grant allowed us to continue our efforts to provide mental health services and promote awareness about the needs of children in our residential facilities.”
She continued, “BICAMH is pleased to partner with RBC in promoting child and adolescent mental health.”
The RBC Children’s Mental Health Project is a part of a larger RBC social programme, RBC Believe in Kids Pledge.
RBC Believe in Kids Pledge is the largest single social commitment in RBC history. The pledge, which seeks to develop the ‘whole’ child, commits $100 million to improving the well-being of one million kids and youth.
“There is a famous quote which says ‘the biggest problem in the world could have been solved when it was small’ Many children with mental illness are not getting the support they need. As a result, mental health problems involving young persons are morphing into much more serious issues as these individuals enter adulthood, said Nathaniel Beneby, market head, RBC Bahamas, Cayman and Turks and Caicos Islands.”
“Research has shown that when treated appropriately and early, many children can fully recover from their mental illness or successfully control their symptoms. RBC is dedicated to helping all our young people gain the opportunities and support they need to meet challenges, reach their full potential and thrive.”
