Mental health support for children and youth

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.

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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 excited to reveal our renewed space to better serve the needs of patients and their families.

Through the incredible generosity of countless families and individuals, we’ve been able to create therapeutic environments that facilitate the healing journey through extensive renovations, including bright rooms with new furniture, making patients feel welcome and valued, as well as improved space for group therapy sessions with empowering messages proudly displayed on our new whiteboard.

Transforming spaces:

Because of you, we’ve been able to address our three key priority projects, which ensure some of our most vulnerable children are receiving the care they need, in the space they need:

An improved Learning Centre: Our well-equipped learning space offers a positive “school” experience with both in-person and online learning. Through your support, we’ve been able to provide our children and youth with updated technology and a bright, open space to work.
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. Today, patients can utilize its home-like environment, feeling comfortable, safe and welcomed. During the evening, patients can enjoy this space to socialize with each other and their loved ones.
An upgraded and brighter thoroughfare: the updated main thoroughfare is beautiful and bright, serving as a main artery across areas. It links the nursing station, clinician offices, patient rooms, the Common Room, and the Learning Centre — an important nexus which brings the Unit and its community together.

Together, North York General Foundation and The Maddie Project are committed to improving the mental health and well-being of children and youth in our community. Help us continue to support children across North York and beyond.

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