On your mark. Get set. Go! Sunnybrook and RBC go further for youth mental health

Registration now open for third annual RBC Run for the Kids

TORONTO, April 23, 2015 /CNW/ - Today Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and RBC launched the third annual RBC Run for the Kids, taking place at Mel Lastman Square in Toronto on Saturday, September 19, 2015. As the third largest running event of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area, registration is now open and competitors have a choice of completing a 5K walk/run, a 7K run or a 15K run.

In just two years, the event has raised more than $3 million for the Family Navigation Project at Sunnybrook. Initiated by parents, the Project assists families of young people who are struggling with mental health and/or addiction issues navigate through the health care system to find the help they need. It is the first program of its kind in Canada.

"Parents have told us for many years how complicated it can be to access care for their adolescent children with mental health or addiction issues," said Dr. Anthony Levitt, medical director of the Family Navigation Project and chief of the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program at Sunnybrook. "They wanted us to develop a service that would match the needs of the youth and their families with the right professional or program in a timely manner. That's why we created the Family Navigation Project and during the first two years, we have already helped hundreds of families find the care they need, when they need it."

As many as two million Canadian youth struggle with mental health or addiction issues, but only one in five receives specialized treatment. Since its inception in late 2013, the Family Navigation Project has helped more than 600 families open the door to recovery.

"In a short time, the Family Navigation Project has proven to be a tremendous resource for families in providing much needed support, tools and assistance while improving and potentially saving lives," said Jamie Anderson, deputy chair, RBC Capital Markets and executive champion of the RBC Children's Mental Health Project. "We are excited to see thousands of employees, their family and friends as well as avid runners participate in the RBC Run for the Kids, which helps fund the Project."

RBC has provided more than $25 million through its Children's Mental Health Project to support over 360 organizations dedicated to providing early intervention, increasing public awareness and reducing the stigma of mental illness. The Project is part of RBC's Kids Pledge - a five-year, $100 million dollar commitment to improve the well-being of kids and youth in Canada.

Visit rbcrunforthekids.ca to register and for complete run details. To learn more about the Family Navigation Project at Sunnybrook.

About Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is inventing the future of health care for the 1.2 million patients the hospital cares for each year through the dedication of its more than 13,000 staff, students and volunteers. An internationally recognized leader in research and education and a full affiliation with the University of Toronto distinguishes Sunnybrook as one of Canada's premier academic health sciences centres. Sunnybrook specializes in caring for high-risk pregnancies, critically-ill newborns and adults, offering specialized rehabilitation and treating and preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological and psychiatric disorders, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions and traumatic injuries. The Hospital also has a unique and national leading program for the care of Canada's war veterans. For more information about how Sunnybrook is inventing the future of health care please visit us online at www.sunnybrook.ca.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is Canada's largest bank, and one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We are one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management, insurance, investor services and capital markets products and services on a global basis. We employ approximately 78,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 39 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com.

RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2014, we contributed more than $111 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community investments of more than $76 million and $35 million in sponsorships.

SOURCE Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

For media enquiries, contact:
Jackie Braden, RBC Brand Communications, 416-974-6286
Nadia Radovini, Communications Advisor, Sunnybrook, 416-480-4040