Richmond Hill hospital gets $700K in funding from province to add 3 mental health beds

Funding part of Ford government’s mental health and addictions plan dubbed Roadmap to Wellness.

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 4, 2021
Sheila Wang

Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital will receive over $700,000 from the Ontario government to add three new in-patient mental health beds.

King-Vaughan MPP Stephen Lecce made the announcement on Jan. 29 at a virtual meeting with a number of local representatives from across York Region.

“We know that mental health is underserviced in our community,” said Altaf Stationwala, president and CEO of Mackenzie Health. “This funding provides the additional resources they need to continue to deliver the care our community needs.”

The funding is part of the government’s comprehensive mental health and addictions plan, Roadmap to Wellness.

The new beds will support patients experiencing mental health challenges, including those who are experiencing a mental health crisis that requires treatment and care that is more appropriately provided in a hospital setting.

“As our area continues to grow, it is imperative that a corresponding amount of support and services are provided, so that health care remains accessible for all,” Richmond Hill MPP Daisy Wai said.

The beds will also build on the 52 additional in-patient mental health beds that the province created in 2019 to address critical gaps in Ontario’s mental health and addictions system.

“We have significantly enhanced mental health funding for our youth and seniors -- and today’s investment adds another layer of support for residents who are facing difficulty from this pandemic,” Lecce said.

The province is also providing several additional investments to improve mental health and addictions care, such as $1.1 million to support the operations of the Baycrest Hospital Behavioural Neurology Unit, and up to $194 million in additional emergency mental health and addictions funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.