‘Without mental health, without the mind being treated, you have no health at all,’ says retired businessman after donation to hospital
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) has 95,000 reasons to celebrate — one for each dollar donated by a longtime Barrie resident and hospital supporter.
Rayner McCullough opted to celebrate his 95th birthday this week by making a $95,000 donation to the Barrie hospital in support of the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Child and Youth Mental Health Program, a gift officials say reflects the local native’s long-standing dedication to improving mental health care in the region.
The local senior and retired businessman told BarrieToday the hospital has always been a place that’s important to him.
“I was born there. Nancy was born there. My son was born over there. My wife died over there,” he said. “That’s the centre of the universe in Barrie is the Royal Victoria hospital. It’s just gotten bigger and bigger.”
The donation will be used to help fund children’s mental health programming in the region.
“Without mental health, without the mind being treated, you have no health at all. That is the beginning and the end of life,” he said prior to a private celebration honouring his donation at his former office on Toronto Street. “I feel quite good to be seeing a whole bunch of people I don’t see very often from one birthday to the next.”
Gail Hunt, RVH’s president and chief executive officer, called McCullough a “legacy” and has been an inspiration to many in the community.
“Being a donor has been a priority for him. He’s really set an example, so for him to celebrate his 95th birthday by giving $95,000 — in addition to what he gives annually anyways — is really a recognition of living the values of supporting your community hospital and regional centre,” she said.
Through this donation, McCullough is helping to shine light on youth mental health, said Hunt, adding it will also help highlight how community support significantly improves access to these programs.
“When we think about the age group from 11 to 17, about 70 to 75 per cent of our business is related to mental health when talking about our youth. Post-COVID and with social-media issues, we are really seeing a lot of pressure on youth,” she added.
The program is accessed widely across the region, said Hunt, and is also the only one of its kind in Simcoe County.
“It’s important we have those inpatient (and) outpatient options and the school to keep them up to speed where we have certified teachers as well to keep up with their studies,” she said.
Funds not only assist in the day-to-day operation of the program, Hunt said, it will also allow for the investment of ever-changing technology as well as continuing education for staff.
“We need to make sure we keep up with that … so (we) so they can provide the best services for (youth). As we grow with the population we know we need to be able to expand the program and be ready,” she said. “We are always advocating to the government to further expand our programs as they get pressurized by population growth.
“We need to be able to invest in that … when and if we do get approvals, and we have the donors backing to be able to invest in program expansion.”
Doing things that support his community is what keeps McCullough going, he acknowledged, adding he plans to continue doing whatever he can to support his hometown for many years to come.
To do that, McCullough told BarrieToday he will continue to keep busy and stay adaptable.
“There is a tree over there. I don’t know how old it is, but it’s been there for quite a while. It hasn’t fallen over in all the winds, snow plows and bashing of it by cars,” he said. “It’s still living because it is pliable.
“My job, for me, is to stay pliable. My hands are stiff. My legs aren’t stiff and my ears aren’t stiff. If you keep your body as a useful instrument to the community you live in, I could live a long time,” McCullough added.
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