Community Story - July 2009

BC Children’s Hospital
Child and Youth Healthy Living Initiative

RBC recognizes the importance of addressing mental health and addiction challenges early to give children and youth every chance of leading healthy and productive lives. That’s why RBC is proud to contribute $2 million toward the BC Children’s Provincial Child and Youth Healthy Living Initiative, a project that integrates prevention, health promotion and specialized health care to help kids with mental illness – children like Garrett Weal of Burnaby.

When Garrett was young, his family suffered from a lack of proper coping mechanisms or resources to deal effectively with his autism. Despite treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Garrett would still isolate himself. He couldn’t manage any kind of change, was constantly frustrated and behaved erratically. The situation reached a breaking point when Garrett lost control at school – tearing his classroom to pieces.

Because Garrett’s support network didn’t understand what was going on in his mind and body, they were unable to help him. Having exhausted all other options, his parents brought him to BC Children’s Hospital. There, doctors started Garrett on an intense behaviour therapy created specifically for children with autism.

With a structured environment at the Hospital and at home, and unique strategies for coping with his autism when he’s in the community, Garrett no longer suffers from uncontrollable anger and frustration. Thanks to the tools and skills the family had access to and acquired from BC Children’s, Garrett’s home is at peace for the first time in years.

Stories like Garrett’s show how important BC Children’s Provincial Child and Youth Healthy Living Initiative is to children and families in BC. Since 1986, RBC employees and clients have given approximately $8 million to BC Children’s Hospital. We’re pleased to continue our partnership with BC Children’s Hospital to help build a brighter and healthier future for generations of children in British Columbia.