Major Fundraising Campaign—2006-2011
Target: $7 Million over Five Years
A Message from the Honorary President
As you know, the National Bank Financial Group is committed to working on behalf of society. For many years now, it has taken an active role in improving our collective well-being.
It is therefore with great pride that I accepted to continue this tradition by heading the Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine Foundation’s major fundraising campaign. I wanted to take on this challenge because we too often overlook the great distress of people suffering from mental illness, as well as the significant human, social and economic costs associated with this kind of illness, which affects one in five Canadians.
As well, we have only just begun to consider mental health in the workplace. More and more studies show that this problem is now the main concern of corporate human resource departments, and with good reason: mental health problems alone represent 42% of overall insurance costs in Quebec and now account for 50% of long-term disabilities, compared to 5% in the late 1970s.
Finally, when I had an opportunity to visit the Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine’s facilities, I was very impressed by the quality and tremendous diversity of treatment and research projects being conducted by the Centre de recherche Fernand-Seguin to prevent these illnesses and to treat, heal and socially reintegrate the people who suffer from them.
With this in mind, I invite you to join our team of businesspeople who have decided to commit to this cause. It is a matter of crucial importance to our society’s future.
Louis Vachon,
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Bank Financial Group
Target: $3.7 Million for RESEARCH
The Centre de recherche Fernand-Seguin of the Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine
Psychological Interventions
Thanks to our efforts: Our researchers were able to demonstrate that psychological interventions reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for people suffering from anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (mania), post-traumatic stress disorder (e.g., caused by a car accident, physical or sexual assault, or a natural disaster) and social phobia, both among adults and children.
Thanks to your donations: We now know that the involvement of a spouse in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder improves the results of therapy. It is essential that we continue the work we have begun in order to improve the effectiveness of treatment.
Human and Fundamental Neuroscience
Thanks to our efforts: We better understand the physiological changes in patients’ brains in response to medical treatment, as well as the effects of certain drugs, such as cannabis, nicotine and psychostimulants (amphetamines, cocaine). We have also developed our expertise in evaluating cognitive functions (learning, concentration, memory) and improving them with medication.
Thanks to your donations: We are continuing our research on new medications (new-generation antipsychotics) with fewer side effects, especially for the treatment of schizophrenia, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder (manic depression). We can also develop new experimental models to better understand the neurobiological factors associated with drug addiction.
Social Psychiatry
Thanks to our efforts: Our researchers have made it easier to reintegrate people suffering from (sometimes severe) mental illness into the community by identifying their needs in terms of intervention and follow-up from care personnel and by determining what kind of accommodation suits them.
Thanks to your donations: The team will continue to participate in a pan-Canadian epidemiological study in order to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and suicide in the population and to thus plan mental health care for the future.
Forensic Psychiatry
Thanks to our efforts: We know more about severe, persistent mental disorders, personality disorders and violent behaviours. In particular, our researchers are analyzing the environmental, psychosocial, clinical and neurobiological factors contributing to violent behaviour.
Thanks to your donations: Our researchers have been able to concentrate their efforts on three major themes: updating the evaluation tools and methodologies used for risk evaluation and management of violent behaviours; the clinical, psychosocial and environmental factors associated with mental disorders and violent behaviours; and the evaluation of the target clientele’s needs, services and interventions.
Target: $2.5 Million for CARE
To Meet the Key Needs of 3,000 Patients
Each year, the funds collected by the Foundation are invested in a range of activities to benefit patients:
- Activities with family and friends
- Social and cultural activities (outings, sports, etc.)
- Therapeutic activities
- Motivational groups Classes and community activities (literacy development)
- Zootherapy activities
- Support and relief for families
- Support for reintegration through the purchase of household items and clothing for people adapting to living independently after a period of hospitalization.
Such activities contribute to individuals’ development and promote personal balance. They elicit relaxation, pleasure, insight, rehabilitation, socialization and improved self-esteem ... not to mention reviving hope.
As well, our patients take part in selecting projects in order to help ensure they meet their own needs adequately. This provides them with a sense of responsibility.
Thanks to your donations: We are able to better meet patients’ needs and thus contribute to improving their quality of life. In fact, we hope to set up a cafe with newspapers, magazines, computers, and so on.
Target: $0.8 Million for TEACHING
The Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine’s Centre d'enseignement
In order to train the next generation of care workers and to pass on knowledge about mental health, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine needs a teaching centre that can accommodate its partners in the field of healthcare and students from various educational institutions.
Thanks to your donations: The teaching centre will allow the hospital to bring together the coordination of teaching services, a resource centre open to both its partners and the public, and audiovisual equipment and facilities for use in training activities.