Approximately 1 in 5 children and youth in Ontario have a mental health challenge*. North York General Hospital (NYGH) is deeply committed to providing essential care to this vulnerable population through comprehensive mental health services that aim to improve well-being and health outcomes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the mental health crisis for children and youth
Phillips House Outpatient Services
Phillips House is home to NYGH’s child and adolescent and mental health outpatient services in its 12,000 sq. ft. site. The outpatient program provides assessment and treatment as well as follow-up for patients previously in inpatient care. The redeveloped Georgian-style mansion reimagines how the hospital treats young patients facing a number of mental health conditions and includes Maddie’s Healing Garden, a 1.2-acre green space surrounding Phillips House providing patients with a calming natural setting for therapy, meditation, and physical activity. Both the Garden and the redevelopment of Phillips House were funded through the generous support of donors.
Paediatric Mental Health Inpatient Unit
The Paediatric Mental Health Inpatient Unit provides care to vulnerable children and youth up to 19 years with severe mental health challenges. With close to 300 patients each year and an average length of stay of 6 days, the Unit provides a wide range of treatment approaches, academic programming to ensure a continuous connection to learning, and a common area to allow for social interaction.
In partnership with The Maddie Project, North York General Foundation is embarking on a new priority project to renew the Unit to better serve the needs of patients and their families. The current Unit has not aged well, has had little investment and is not aligned with best practices in creating a healing and therapeutic care environment. We need better space for youth mental health. It’s that simple.
We’ll create better space in three key ways:
- An improved Learning Centre: the academic programming is currently offered in an overcrowded, under resourced, technology-poor classroom. A well-equipped learning space will offer a positive “school” experience with both in person and online learning.
- A more comfortable Common Room: the Common Room offers a lounge area for socializing, food preparing and eating, watching TV, and sharing time with staff, other patients and family members. It is in need of a refresh to create a more home-like experience to help patients feel comfortable and welcomed.
- An upgraded and brighter thoroughfare: the main thoroughfare links the nursing station, clinician offices, patient rooms, the Common Room, and the Learning Centre and it is an important nexus which brings the Unit together.