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The breadth and detail of this study is such that these current findings are just a small sample of what will be released in the months and years to come. Each new release of findings will further illuminate the extent to which mentored children do better; why mentored children do better and Big Brother Big Sister agency practices that lead to the most successful mentoring relationships.

Over time, Big Brother Big Sisters agencies will actually be able to counsel mentors on how best to engage with their "Little" based on their, age, personal history, family circumstances and cultural identity. During the pre-match screening process, the study's conclusions are also expected to make it easier to identify the children most likely to benefit from having a mentor.

"When the findings of this research are fully understood, we expect that virtually every aspect of how we approach, design and maintain our mentoring relationships will be impacted," says MacDonald. "The work of the project's outstanding team, so ably led by Dr. DeWit and Dr. Lipman, will benefit children and teenagers in every region of Canada for generations."

"We recognize that the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada has played a crucial role in the lives of many young Canadians," says Dr. Anthony Phillips, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction. "CIHR is pleased to support research that provides communities with information about youth mental health and healthy development in society. "Beyond public awareness campaigns focused on youth mentoring, BBBSC and its agencies will also be hosting special events across Canada. These celebrations will pay tribute to the contributions of past and present Big Brother and Big Sister volunteers to the well-being of children and communities over the past 100 years.

Canadians can participate in BBBSC's 100th birthday celebrations through social media by giving a "big shout out" to the special people who made a difference in their lives - be they parents, extended family members, coaches, teachers, employers or a volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister. People can tell their mentoring story to the Big Brothers Big Sisters community by visiting www.thebigshoutout.ca.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada

For one hundred years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been making a positive difference in the lives of Canada's youth by developing and implementing a wide range of mentoring programs. BBBSC volunteer mentors teach by example the importance of giving back, of staying in school, and of respecting family, peers and community.

BBBSC provides quality mentoring services for more than 33,000 children and teenagers. The community-based youth mentoring organization currently has over 25,000 volunteer mentors working at 123 agencies that serve children in over 1,000 communities across the country. Learn more. Visit www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.

About the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in its field. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.

CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. For more information, please visit www.camh.ca.

About the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

To view the video associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaKJPbZ5190.



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Contacts:
Xposure PR
Leslie Booth
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905-339-2209 ext. 6
leslie@xposurepr.com

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
Jennifer Thomas
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Jennifer.thomas@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca
www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation
Michael Torres
CAMH Media Relations
416-595-6015
media@camh.ca
www.camh.ca