NORTHERN ONTARIO—At a time when compassionate care is more essential than ever, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto is taking a heartfelt step to ensure that youth and families in Northern Ontario receive the mental health and addiction support they need. In collaboration with Compass/Boussole/Akii-Izhinoogan—the trusted agency dedicated to child and youth mental health in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts—this study aims to build a bridge to better, more integrated care.
Funded by a generous $2 million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research and matched by an additional $2 million from Sunnybrook’s donor community, the project embodies a community-wide commitment to healing and hope. Every dollar and every effort is directed toward making care more accessible for those who often face overwhelming challenges.
The study brings together a network of compassionate partners—including the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research, Future North, Health Sciences North, Noojmowin-Teg Health Centre and Parents for Children’s Mental Health Sudbury—who will lend their expertise and personal commitment to this transformative effort. Their collective work underscores the power of community support in creating a seamless, caring system for mental health and addiction services.
“Partnering with the Family Navigation Project is an incredible opportunity to expand access to critical mental health and addiction services for youth, while providing essential support for families in Sudbury and Manitoulin. Together, we are building a more seamless and supportive system of care within our communities,” shared Mark Fraser, CEO of Compass/Boussole/Akii-Izhinoogan. His words echo the deep desire to nurture and protect those in need.
Central to the study is the innovative navigation service model—a compassionate approach that helps patients and their families find their way through complex health care systems. This model is especially significant for youth facing mental health challenges and their families, offering them a guiding hand in times of uncertainty.
Dr. Roula Markoulakis, the study’s principal investigator with the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, explained, “The study will evaluate the implementation of this evidence-based intervention in Sudbury-Manitoulin, following local consultations to adapt the existing model.” By listening to local voices and adapting services to meet real needs, the study is poised to create a lasting impact that extends far beyond its immediate communities.
The project will unfold in two phases. The first phase focuses on a comprehensive local needs assessment and the co-design of the Family Navigation Project service for Sudbury-Manitoulin, ensuring that the service truly reflects the lived experiences of those it aims to help. In the second phase, an innovative clinical trial will carefully evaluate the outcomes, providing crucial insights into how navigation services can be refined and expanded to serve more youth and families across Canada.
Since its inception in 2013, the Family Navigation Project at Sunnybrook has touched the lives of over 6,000 youth and families in the Greater Toronto Area. Now, with this compassionate initiative, there is hope that the same transformative care can reach even more people in Northern Ontario, lighting the way toward a future where mental health and addiction services are accessible, empathetic, and effective for everyone in need.
