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 Centre for Addictionand Mental Health |
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Hundreds gather to usher in a new era in the treatment of mental illness and addictionAttention Health/City/Photo Editors For Immediate Release – October 5, 2006 - (Toronto) – Hundreds, including Health Minister, George Smitherman and Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, David Caplan gathered at The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to break ground on the first phase of one of the largest and most exciting redevelopment projects in Canada: replacing an out-of-date mental health institution on 27 acres in downtown Toronto with a mixed-use urban village. In this historic moment, staff, clients, families, friends and neighbours took part in a mass groundbreaking ceremony, kicked off with Canadian entertainer, Taborah Johnson signing the national anthem. What began in the 1850s as a “lunatic asylum” will be transformed into a health centre unlike any other in the world. Through a multi-year, multi-phase redevelopment project, CAMH will be integrating its programs—bringing groundbreaking research together with health care, education, policy and health promotion to improve treatment and quality of life for people with mental illness and addictions.
“As we break ground today, we are also breaking our isolation. Within the next 15 months, a new streetwill connect us to Toronto’s roads, opening our property to the lifeblood of our great city and joining our site with the heart of our local community,” said President and CEO, Dr. Paul Garfinkel today. “To be a part of building our city for the needs of today and of the future is extremely important to us and we look forward to becoming a revitalized and thriving urban village welcoming to all.” CAMH is building a neighbourhood centred on care, where clients will feel empowered and not stigmatized by their environment. This is a sentiment echoed by Stephen Crawford, a client in CAMH’s Moon and Anxiety Program. “I look forward to a time when people will begin to see those with mental illness differently through more face-to-face interaction, and come to recognize that mental illness is no different than any other medical condition,” he said in a speech earlier today. “No one places blame on a person with a low functioning kidney, liver, or heart. The brain is also an organ – and it too can malfunction, resulting in mental illness. That is no one’s fault. I think that if people became aware of the great work accomplished at this hospital, they would be proud to have it in their community.” One out of every five Canadians will experience mental illness or addiction, leading to billions of dollars in lost productivity every year. CAMH’s bold vision will transform the face of addiction and mental health while contributing to the revitalization of the unique Queen West community. Phase 1A also includes the creation of one four-storey out-patient and administrative building, a new public park on Queen Street West at Fennings Street, attractive streetscaping and landscape design, and a restoration of the historic Victorian wall on the west side of the site. For more information, please contact: Michael Torres, Media Relations Coordinator, CAMH at (416) 595-6015. -30- The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is one of the largest addiction and mental health organizations in North America and Canada's leading mental health and addiction teaching hospital. CAMH is a Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre, and is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. CAMH combines clinical care, research, policy, education and health promotion to improve the lives of people impacted by mental health and addiction issues. |
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Last updated: October 12, 2006 Published: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 7:38 PM ID#25872-N |