Long-distance mental health service launched
If you live in an urban centre, and most Canadians do, you have access to many services. If you wish to see a movie, you have
dozens of choices, from the latest blockbuster in Imax 3D to the most exotic of art films. The same can be said for health
services: if your child requires the care of a medical specialist, you have many choices. Even with these choices in an urban
setting, though, securing appropriate mental health care can be a challenge.
These challenges are significantly exacerbated in rural and more remote parts of the country: health services in general are
typically scarce, and specialist mental health care is, as a rule, unobtainable. Untreated mental health problems can lead
to school failure, family conflicts, substance abuse, violence, and even suicide.
TeleLink is a paediatric mental health service developed at The Hospital for Sick Children that allows mental health professionals
from SickKids and other major hospitals to provide sensitive bilingual mental health care to children, youth, and their families
who live in underserved rural areas, using state-of-the-art communications technology.
| Published | Reviewed by |
| April 17, 2010 |
Ross Hetherington, PhD, CPsych
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