Remote robotic technology “a game-changer” for youth mental health
Young people suffering from mental health issues in remote Saskatchewan First Nations communities will soon have close-to-home treatment options through robotics technology, thanks to a big donation announced this morning.
The $500,000 donation, from the Royal Bank of Canada to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation, will be used to provide remote-presence technology to northern communities specifically to address youth mental health issues. The donation was announced this morning at the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre on the University of Saskatchewan’s Saskatoon campus.
RBC Regional President Kim Ulmer said the technology will come as a huge improvement to mental healthcare in remote, northern communities, where access to necessary mental health treatments often requires extensive travel.
“More than ever before, our young people matter,” Ulmer said. “Their success in today’s changing world depends on having the support where and when they need it.”