In a community where mental health resources for young people have traditionally been stretched thin, gestures of extraordinary generosity resonate with special significance. Last Tuesday, I stood in the sunlit atrium of Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie as Rayner McCullough celebrated his 95th birthday by presenting hospital officials with a check that matched his years on earth: $95,000.
“I’ve lived a fortunate life,” McCullough told me, his voice steady despite his age. “When you reach 95, you think about what matters. These kids matter.”
The donation arrives at a critical moment. Since the pandemic, youth mental health services across Simcoe County have faced unprecedented demand. Emergency department visits for adolescent mental health crises have increased by nearly 40% at RVH since 2019, according to hospital data shared during the presentation.
Standing beside McCullough was his granddaughter, Emma, now 23, who spoke briefly but powerfully about her own struggles with anxiety as a teenager. “Having proper support changed everything for me,” she said. “But too many of my friends couldn’t access help when they needed it most.”
The funds will support RVH’s Specialized Child and Youth Mental Health outpatient programs, specifically expanding services for the 12-to-18 age group. Hospital CEO Gail Hunt explained that this demographic faces particular challenges in the current healthcare landscape.
“We have a significant gap in services for adolescents who need more than primary care can provide, but don’t require hospitalization,” Hunt said. “This generous gift will help us develop programs that catch young people before they reach crisis.”
What struck me most while documenting this story wasn’t just the size of the donation, but McCullough’s personal connection to the cause. He shared that his late wife, Marion, had worked as a school nurse for over three decades and frequently expressed frustration at the lack of mental health resources for struggling students.
“Marion would come home and tell me about these bright, wonderful young people who just needed someone to talk to, somewhere to go,” McCullough recalled, momentarily looking down at the ceremonial check in his hands. “She passed five years ago, but this is what she would have wanted.”
The donation comes amid troubling provincial trends. A 2022 report from Children’s Mental Health Ontario found that more than 28,000 children and youth across the province were waiting for mental health services, with some facing wait times exceeding 2.5 years. In Simcoe-Muskoka specifically, the average wait for youth mental health services currently stands at 15 months.
McCullough’s gift will fund an additional clinician position and expand group therapy programs specifically designed for teens dealing with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.
Dr. Melanie Bradford, Chief of Psychiatry at RVH, explained that early intervention is crucial. “The research is clear that when we provide appropriate support during adolescence, we can dramatically improve long-term outcomes,” she told the small gathering. “Many mental health conditions first emerge during these formative years, making this age group particularly vulnerable—but also particularly responsive to treatment.”
Local youth advocate Jamie Parker, 18, who has been vocal about his own mental health journey, attended the ceremony and shared his perspective with me afterward.
“When someone from an older generation makes this kind of statement with their wallet, it sends a powerful message,” Parker said. “It says our struggles are real, they matter, and the community stands with us.”
The impact of such a contribution extends beyond the immediate clinical services it will fund. Janice Williams, Director of the RVH Foundation, noted that major donations like this often inspire others.
“Mr. McCullough’s generosity creates a ripple effect,” Williams explained. “When community members see someone step forward in such a meaningful way, it often prompts them to consider how they might contribute.”
The hospital plans to use a portion of the funds to create a pilot program focused on teaching coping skills and resilience to high school students, with the goal
