The announcement of the new partnership was made this week at the MaRS Discovery District, where MaRS and CAMH were co-hosting a discussion
series on "innovations in mental health and addiction." Monday's event, the first of the series, featured Dr. Peter Szatmari, who will be leading the new integrated Child and Youth Mental Health Program on behalf of the three institutions.
"SickKids, CAMH and U of T form a remarkable health science powerhouse with a shared commitment to improving child and youth mental health, a field that is struggling to meet the growing needs of our young people and their families," said Szatmari. "I am honoured to have been selected to fill this exciting new position."
Szatmari is currently head of child psychiatry at McMaster University and is known for his work researching and advocating on behalf of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In his new role, Szatmari will lead a team of researchers and clinicians investigating mental illness among children and youth, as well as investigating the care (or lack of care) received by children and youth. Szatmari and his colleagues will also be training future psychiatrists and mental health practitioners to deal specifically with youth and children.
Szatmari will take over his new duties in March 2013. He will become both the chief of the Child and Youth Mental Health Collaborative at the two hospitals, as well as director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
"Today, children's mental health is being recognized as the issue of our time. With this collaboration under the leadership of Dr. Szatmari, we are poised to make significant advancements," stated Dr. Trevor Young, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto in a press release. "This means hope for our children, and a better future for us all."
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: Trevor Young, Chair, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto