SCARBOROUGH, ON, May 24, 2025 – Roy Ratnavel, who survived a civil war and was a political prisoner in Sri Lanka at the age of 17, immigrated to Canada at 18 and settled in Scarborough. He built a successful career in finance and later recounted his experiences in the bestselling memoir, Prisoner #1056.
Ratnavel understands the profound impact of trauma on mental well-being, and now, he and his wife, Sue Nathan, are giving back to the Scarborough community. The Scarborough Health Network Foundation (SHN) Foundation is pleased to announce a generous $1 million donation from Roy Ratnavel and Sue Nathan to support inpatient mental health services at Birchmount Hospital.
Alicia Vandermeer, President & CEO of SHN Foundation, expressed gratitude for Roy’s inspiring story and resilience, as well as Roy and Sue’s dedication to enhancing mental health care in Scarborough. She stated that their donation will significantly improve the lives of individuals and families facing mental health challenges.
The donation will specifically aid in the expansion of inpatient mental health services at Birchmount Hospital, providing support for vulnerable individuals with persistent mental health conditions and other complex health needs. SHN, the second-largest community-based mental health program in Ontario, supports over 65,000 outpatients, 7,500 inpatients, and handles more than 10,000 referrals each year. These figures underscore the urgent need for accessible, equitable, and stigma-free mental health care for the diverse Scarborough community.
Roy and Sue have directly observed the obstacles many individuals face when seeking mental health care, particularly within the Tamil community, where discussions about mental health support can be challenging.
Ratnavel emphasized the importance of addressing the community’s mental health needs with compassion and understanding. He stated that he and Sue are proud to support Scarborough Health Network in their crucial work. His own experiences have highlighted the importance of accessible and culturally sensitive mental health support, and they hope their gift will help overcome barriers and reduce stigma.
SHN is deeply grateful to Roy Ratnavel and Sue Nathan for their gift, which supports the historic Love, Scarborough campaign.
About the Love, Scarborough Campaign
The Love, Scarborough campaign was initiated by Scarborough Health Network (SHN) Foundation in 2022 to increase awareness and donations for Scarborough hospitals. Funds raised support vital projects across the health network, including expanding emergency care, establishing new models of care in the Scarborough community, and advancing medical research and education. SHN accomplishes more than expected with limited resources, and the campaign aims to provide them with more support. Additional information is available at lovescarborough.ca.
About Scarborough Health Network (SHN)
SHN is shaping the future of healthcare. Operating across three hospitals and various community-based locations, SHN delivers a comprehensive range of essential and specialized health services to a diverse population, ensuring high-quality care at every stage of life. As a member of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network and a key partner of the University of Toronto’s Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health, SHN Research Institute is at the forefront of multicultural health research. With the support of the fundraising campaign, SHN is implementing a multi-year redevelopment strategy to bring innovative, state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and technology to the health network to meet Scarborough’s evolving needs in the future. Visit .
SOURCE Scarborough Health Network Foundation
“`