A Safe Space to Heal
Modernizing and Expanding Adult Mental Health at NYGH
A Safe Space to Heal
Modernizing and Expanding Adult Mental Health at NYGH
Anyone, At Anytime, Can Experience a Mental Health Crisis
There’s many ways we can action positive change, especially when it comes to mental health. During the course of a lifetime, anyone, at anytime, can experience a mental health crisis. At North York General, we’re ensuring patients receive compassionate support in the most appropriate care setting.
But the journey is only just beginning. Through your generous support, you’re helping to revitalize our Adult Mental Health Unit. It is important we provide our patients with a safe space for healing. Those who have a supportive, positive environment throughout their treatment, from the moment they walk through our door to the day they return home, are more likely to continue their recovery.
Updated Adult Mental Health Unit: A Safe, Positive Environment for Everyone
With your commitment and dedication, we are realizing our dream to serve more community members, and support them every step of the way in their care journey.
Our goal is to raise $1.4 million for our new Adult Mental Health Unit, a program that has seen a significant increase in demand since the pandemic. Your support ensures additional support resources, and a warm space for those seeking or continuing treatment.
Together we will:
Create three additional beds in our Adult Mental Health Unit – that’s 24 to 26 in acute care, and another 5 to 6 beds in our Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit.
In addition, we’re ensuring essential cosmetic and functional upgrades are provided to the space, which was last upgraded in 2007
These functional and cosmetic upgrades include:
- Refreshed welcome areas, that feature soft colours, subdued lighting, and comfortable furniture;
- Updated wayfinding and signage, ensuring patients, their loved ones and other guests, can find their way around seamlessly;
- Enhance Dining and Activity Room, with updated cabinets, flooring and appliances;
- Updated inpatient rooms to ensure the utmost safety whilst designed with modern details;
- Much-needed upgrades to the HVAC and lighting systems;
- New fire alarms and smoke detectors;
- Modern call system.
More Patients Are Relying On NYGH For Mental Health Care
Meet Richard (insert link to story). He had struggled with short spurts of depression throughout his life, but he knew this time was different. When he started taking a new drug prescribed for cancer treatment, Richard suddenly found himself in a very dark place. Richard was admitted to the Adult Mental Health Unit, where our team of experts cared for him in the midst of the most severe mental health struggle of his life. After two weeks as an inpatient, he graduated to the outpatient program and returned home to his wife.
Richard’s story is increasingly common. At some point in their life, one in three Canadians will experience the darkness, loneliness, and despair of a mental illness. Without a safe place to seek help, an adult in the throes of a mental health crisis can spiral into self-harm, violence, crime, homelessness, and even suicide. It’s not difficult to see how one person’s crisis can tear apart families and communities.
Adult mental health care is a priority at North York General – indeed, we have seen the demand for mental health care in our Emergency Department (ED) increase by 20 per cent since 2020. We know that the highest need for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis is to feel physically and emotionally safe.
To alleviate some of the pressure on the ED and provide a safer, more dignified place to treat the increasing volume of patients coming to North York General from community referrals, we are carving out space to create 3 additional beds in our Adult Mental Health Unit (24 to 26 in acute care and 5 to 6 beds in our Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit) and will bring a number of essential cosmetic and functional upgrades to this space, which was last upgraded in 2007.
North York General is reducing barriers and providing access to care that meets the diverse needs of our patients and community population.
But quality care relies on quality spaces.
Your environment contributes so much to your healing journey.”
Sandy Marangos
Clinical Director, Mental Health Programs
Reducing barriers and ending the stigma
North York General is an important hub for adult mental health, connecting thousands of patients each year with several partner organizations, helping them develop skills and resources to function well in society.
By providing these much-needed updates and additional bed support, we’re giving more patients an environment to heal closer to home, in a care setting that is most appropriate for them.
Creating a Supportive Environment for Healing
The Adult Mental Health Unit is a critical intervention space for patients during the worst part of their mental health crisis. Nearly one-third of patients in the Adult Mental Health Unit are admitted via the Charlotte & Lewis Steinberg Emergency.
As patients are moved from the ED to the Adult Mental Health Unit, it is imperative that they experience a feeling of safety, security, comfort, and privacy.
Imagine a warm, refreshed welcome area that features soft colours, subdued lighting, and comfortable furniture. Updated wayfinding and signage makes it easy for patients, guests, and visitors to find one another. Families and patients come together for self-serve meals in an updated Dining and Activity Room, which is equipped with new cabinets, flooring, and appliances.
The Adult Mental Health Unit is a critical intervention space for patients during the worst part of their mental health crisis. Nearly one-third of patients in the Adult Mental Health Unit are admitted via the Charlotte & Lewis Steinberg Emergency.
As patients are moved from the ED to the Adult Mental Health Unit, it is imperative that they experience a feeling of safety, security, comfort, and privacy.
Imagine a warm, refreshed welcome area that features soft colours, subdued lighting, and comfortable furniture. Updated wayfinding and signage makes it easy for patients, guests, and visitors to find one another. Families and patients come together for self-serve meals in an updated Dining and Activity Room, which is equipped with new cabinets, flooring, and appliances.
Imagine inpatient rooms that are fitted with modern details designed to keep patients safe. Windows are coated with a clear film that makes them virtually unbreakable. Window coverings are housed between double-paned windows. Any handles in the room are flush against the wall, and the sprinklers in the ceiling are of a special design. Each of these details is thoughtful and compliant with current mental health safety standards to protect patients against self-harm.
Imagine halls, offices, and common areas with upgraded HVAC and lighting systems that provide a healthier, safer place to heal and to work. New fire alarms and smoke detectors offer an extra feeling of security for everyone. And a modern call system throughout the area allows staff to rapidly respond to the urgent needs of their patients.
Imagine this safe and secure place to heal. We know that if patients like Richard have a positive experience throughout their treatment, they are more likely to continue their recovery, and possibly avoid another crisis. Their success hinges not only on the quality of care they receive, but also the environment in which they begin their healing journey.
Research shows that lighting, furniture, colours, and other cosmetic touches make a measurable difference to a patient’s recovery.
Funded by Donors Who Understand The Importance of Mental Health Care
The Covid-19 pandemic brought home – quite literally – the fragility of our mental health, affecting nearly every household in Canada in some way. This moment has provided the impetus to prioritize expansion and essential upgrades to the Adult Mental Health area.
We are seeking to raise a total of $1.4 million in donor support for this much-needed project. This investment from our community of supporters will help us deliver essential safety and cosmetic upgrades to the psychiatric intensive care and acute care spaces in the Adult Mental Health area. It will also include adding three new inpatient beds to help more patients amidst growing demand for mental health care.
Your generous gift will help us transform our Adult Mental Health Unit area into a warm and supportive space for those seeking or continuing treatment.