CAMH opens one-of-a-kind forensic unit for women in Ontario

For Immediate Release

January 19, 2007 (TORONTO) Today, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto will be opening the only gender-specific unit of its kind in Ontario. The 6-bed Women's Medium Secure Forensic Unit (WMSFU) is designed to provide specialized, gender-specific treatment for women with serious mental illness who have been charged with a crime.

The Honourable George Smitherman, Ontario's Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, will address a number of special guests at the opening before cutting the ceremonial ribbon and touring the new facilities. This unit is a milestone in addressing the need for specialized care among women in Ontario who have been found ‘Not Criminally Responsible’ or ‘Unfit to Stand Trial’ on account of their mental illness.

“This is a great investment for the province,” says Minister Smitherman. “This new unit will provide a safe, supportive and secure rehabilitative environment for women with mental illness. It will also act as an important provincial resource, contributing to the overall responsiveness of the current system - a system that, as a government, we are working to build up through innovative approaches such as this.”

Men and women have different treatment needs, and women in secure psychiatric facilities have historically been treated on assumptions informed by their male counterparts. This new unit will ensure that the care that all CAMH clients receive is comprehensive and addresses their specific goals.

“The number of women entering the forensic system with complex mental health issues is growing, yet few services and programs are specialized for their needs,” said Dr. Shaheen Darani, Staff Psychiatrist, WMSFU, CAMH. “This new women’s unit will enable us to provide state-of-the-art, multi-disciplinary programs that will address specific women’s issues, including trauma recovery, relapse prevention, life skills and parenting.”

The culmination of many years of investigation and careful planning by a range of clinical experts, facility planners and architects, The Women’s Medium Secure Forensic Unit is designed to encourage recovery and healing in an environment of safety, optimism and hope.

“Specialized inpatient hospital care for women in the forensic system is part of a larger continuum of care and support that is critical to women with mental health issues,” said Dr. Paul Garfinkel, President and CEO, CAMH. “We share the Government of Ontario’s goal of keeping people with mental illness out of the criminal justice system, through important initiatives such as safe beds, crisis intervention, court diversion, ACT Teams, supportive housing and other community-based programs and services.”

Event: Opening and Tour of Women’s Medium Secure Forensic Unit

Date: Friday, January 19, 2007

Time: 10:00a.m.

Location: 1001 Queen Street West, Unit 3

Please confirm attendance by contacting Michael Torres,Media Relations Coordinator, CAMH at (416) 595-6015 or email michael_torres@camh.net

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is one of the leading 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.