Rivière-des-Prairies
Rivière-des-Prairies: Committed to Youth Mental Health for 75 Years
Rivière-des-Prairies Mental Health Hospital is one of the largest child and adolescent psychiatry services in Québec. It provides cutting‑edge care and services to children and adolescents living with mental health challenges. The hospital is also recognized for its specialized support for individuals on the autism spectrum and for its expertise in sleep disorders. The institution has been active for 75 years.
Affiliated with the Université de Montréal, the Rivière-des-Prairies Mental Health Hospital also fulfills a mission of research and education. Care providers and researchers work side by side in the same setting to develop effective solutions that make a tangible difference in the lives of young patients. The wide range of mental health conditions treated and the vast territory served also make it an ideal environment for research.
Five Years of Care and Innovation in Youth Mental Health
The Rivière-des-Prairies Mental Health Hospital celebrated its 75th anniversary on September 10th, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the history of child and adolescent mental health care in Québec. Founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Providence, the institution has evolved alongside the needs of the population while preserving the visionary spirit of its founders.
The institution originally operated as a school with a mission to educate children living with mental health challenges. After several changes in its mandate over the years, it became a specialized youth mental health centre in the late 1960s.
Its mental health services have since expanded significantly across the region. Today, the hospital serves the northern and eastern parts of the Island of Montréal, Laval, Mauricie–Centre‑du‑Québec, and Lanaudière.