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 Centre for Addictionand Mental Health |
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Province Announces Funding for CAMH's Site Redevelopment!BreakthroughFall 2005 Transforming Our Site, Transforming Lives
On September 9, 2005 CAMH received some great news from the Honourable David Caplan, Ontario Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal. During a media conference the Minister announced a major investment in CAMH's project to redevelop our Queen Street site, allowing us to now proceed with the first phase of the redevelopment! Part of the focus for the first phase will be on the Alternate Milieu (AM) bed project — which will allow clients to receive care and begin their recovery in a more homelike setting. In addition to receiving specialized hospital care, clients will also have the opportunity to develop or redevelop the skills necessary to have a successful transition to living in the community. We anticipate construction of the first phase to begin in the summer of 2006 and be completed by the fall/winter of 2007. "We have waited a very long time for this to happen, so this is fantastic news!" said Joan Piscopo, Chair of CAMH's Client and Family Reference Group for the Redevelopment. "Many patients, clients and family members struggle tremendously with the stigma that mental health and addictions often sadly bring, causing unnecessary shame or embarrassment to receive treatment. This Redevelopment Project will help to integrate treatment services into the community and create an environment that is both pleasing and healthy for all." The Alternate Milieu (AM) setting will be different from the traditional inpatient setting and will reflect best practices. Physically, the buildings will be smaller in size, with clusters of six single rooms per floor (each with a private washroom) and common areas within each 4-storey building. Brenda Bloomberg is all too familiar with the pain mental illness can cause for a family member, and the profound impact that an individual's surroundings can have on their ability to live with their mental illness. Her brother has schizophrenia, and although he lived in the community for many years, this eventually became too difficult and he became a resident at CAMH. For the past three years, he has lived in the Integrated Rehabilitation Unit (IRU). The IRU provides care to clients that require a stable, long-term setting and active rehabilitation in a more homelike setting than a traditional hospital environment. Renovations were made within the existing facilities, including new furnishings and personal keypad locks on client rooms allowing each client privacy and security. This move to a more homelike environment has made a huge difference for her brother and her family. "My brother is a different person today than he was three years ago. He still lives with his mental illness and it still occupies much of his life, but he also has a new found sense of independence and he is treated with dignity and respect," she said. The IRU is a great start to creating a more homelike setting for clients, but it is still too large a unit, with a total of sixty beds located on two floors.
Moving forward, using best practices "The Alternate Milieu (AM) bed project, along with the entire site redevelopment, is building on the changes we have already started to implement, and helping us to ensure that CAMH and the people it serves are truly part of the larger community, and viewed as such," said Brenda. "This is a living example of us being able to work together to turn our pain into power and to make a difference in the lives of people with mental illness, their families and the people who plan their services and provide their care." The remainder of the first phase of the site redevelopment project will include modernized core bed buildings to support both the Geriatric Mental Health Program and the Child, Youth and Family Program. This will include the first 12 beds in the city to serve youth who have addictions and/or mental health and addictions. There will also be a new outpatient and administrative building. Construction will begin in 2008/2009. The redevelopment of the Queen Street site is a 10-year multi-phased project that will eventually bring together programs and services at one location creating a hub for the organization's operations. The 27-acre Queen Street site will be transformed into an urban village with neighbourhood streets extended through the property. This will integrate CAMH into the surrounding community and contribute to the revitalization of the neighbourhood. "We are very excited," says Dr. Paul Garfinkel, CAMH President and CEO. "The government's investment will let us create facilities that support client dignity, recovery and transition back into the community, while integrating the best in clinical care, research, teaching, health promotion and policy at one site. CAMH is looking forward to the day the shovel goes into the ground, turning our vision into reality." Get a close look at the real thing! Client, family members and CAMH staff will have an opportunity to get a first hand look at what an Alternate Milieu bedroom will look like beginning in December. The CAMH Redevelopment Office is reconstructing a full-scale model of the bedroom, ensuite washroom and part of the adjoining corridor in the CAMH community centre (mall) of our Queen Street site. We are looking for input on the design and will be conducting tours of the room from December 5th to 13th. If you or members of your family would like to have a tour please contact Andrea Eccleston-Neufeld in the Redevelopment Office at 416 535-8501 ext. 3227 to set up a time. |
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Last updated: May 02, 2006 3:1 PM Published: November 21, 2008 3:29 PM ID#19068-R |