Annual Report 2022-2023: The Hospital for Sick Children

Submitted by Dr. Louise Gallagher, Psychiatrist-in-Chief

A number of key initiatives have been implemented to enhance care for children and youth attending the Hospital for Sick Children Firstly, as part of the Mental Health Strategy we are developing the implementation of measurement-based care for children and youth receiving care at SickKids to ensure that their mental health is considered as part of their overall care and to facilitate timely and appropriate intervention for mental health concerns. Secondly, an integrated care pathway for somatization has been developed, enabling a coordinated approach to address somatic symptoms between pediatrics and psychiatry. Lastly, the hospital is developing a mental health literacy program for all staff to improve understanding, identification and support of patients with mental health concerns.

 Aside from the mental health strategy, SickKids is developing collaboration with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Regular meetings between the leadership teams have facilitated the development of a shared vision for collaborative and integrated care. This developing partnership aims to provide seamless access, improved transitions, and evidence-based care for children and youth with mental health and addiction challenges.

From the research perspective, SickKids is a key site in the recently funded CALM network, a translational research network involving multiple clinical sites. This network focuses on studying multimorbidity in children and youth and aims to develop infrastructures for translational research and clinical trials.

Through these initiatives, the Hospital for Sick Children is dedicated to improving care, advancing research, and providing high-quality, evidence-based services to children and youth.