Seneca and RBC collaborate to champion mental health in York Region

November 11, 2015 · 0 Comments

Seneca College celebrated a $300,000 gift from RBC Foundation for mental health initiatives at its King Campus.
RBC Foundation has pledged $150,000 to fund the bi-annual RBC Royal Bank Mental Health Symposium at Seneca over the next five years, and $150,000 for mental health community outreach, including a capstone project for students in Seneca’s new Mental Health Intervention graduate certificate program, which will result in an RBC-supported workshop to be delivered to community partners.
The symposium will serve as an opportunity for community and social agencies across York Region to congregate at Seneca’s King Campus and discuss best practices, research and emerging trends in mental healthcare and emotional well-being for children and adults. The symposium will be held at Seneca every other summer starting in 2016, and guests will include community agencies, government, medical professionals, and RBC representatives. It will also offer a platform to celebrate the achievements of mental health advocates in the classroom and in the community, with an award sponsored by RBC.
The RBC Foundation’s gift will also establish the RBC Mental Health Community Outreach Program. This will provide an opportunity for students in Seneca’s new Mental Health Intervention graduate certificate program to visit partner organizations and facilitate workshops on best practices in mental health and wellness. This first-of-its-kind program launched at Seneca’s King Campus in May 2015.
“RBC’s contribution will help the symposium become a signature King Campus event,” said Joy McKinnon, Seneca Vice-President, Academic. “The donation will also provide students with more opportunities to network with industry and community leaders while creating a platform to discuss, promote and facilitate mental health initiatives across the region.”
Industry and government partners, along with Seneca students and faculty, were on hand to witness last night’s announcement at Seneca’s King Campus. Guests also had the opportunity to browse Seneca’s Applied Research Showcase event, during which students, faculty and industry partners presented 25 collaborative research projects.
“As many as two million Canadian youth struggle with mental health issues or addiction, but only one in five received specialized treatment,” said Rina Pillitteri, Regional Vice-President, Vaughan and King Township, RBC. “We are proud to support Seneca College and the crucial work they do to support mental health and with this donation we hope to do our part in our communities and enable conversations to help break down any barriers between needing help and getting help.”