October 8, 2015
Construction Underway on $7-million Northern Crisis Unit for Youth in Thompson: Minister Blady
Construction is underway on a new $7-million facility in Thompson that will provide mental health and addictions services for area youth in crisis, Health Minister Sharon Blady announced today.
“Mobile crisis services are currently available in Thompson, but this new facility will provide a permanent site for clinical support as well as short-term crisis beds for youth in need of mental health and addictions services,” said Minister Blady. “This means culturally appropriate services for youth and families living in the north will be available closer to home, reducing the number of young people diverted Winnipeg for assessment and treatment.”
Currently, youth mobile mental-health crisis services in the community are available at a temporary site, the minister said. She added the new, 9,000 sq.-ft. facility will be called Hope North: Recovery Centre for Youth and include:
- a four-bed crisis stabilization unit, which will provide a secure place for youth experiencing a mental health crisis, including youth at risk for suicide, for up to one week;
- a two-bed youth addictions stabilization unit for youth who are severely and persistently abusing drugs and/or alcohol, with involuntary admissions guided by the Youth Drug Stabilization (Support for Parents) Act; and
- a base for mobile crisis and outreach services, which provide in-person intervention and assessment for youth in crisis in Thompson and within a 110-kilometre radius in addition to Telehealth and telephone-based consultation throughout the region.
The facility will be located in a newly developed area near the Thompson General Hospital campus and next to the new Addictions Foundation of Manitoba residential treatment facility.
“We are pleased that work is moving ahead on this important project,” said Dr. Shelley Rhyno, director, behavioural health, Northern Regional Health Authority. “The new space will help us better serve youth at risk in the region by providing the specialized support care they need.”
The facility will include a secure wing with six bedrooms, a common room, a quiet room, a family therapy room, a mobile crisis services office, staff offices, an examination room and meeting areas. A mobile Telehealth unit will be used within the facility.
The new building will meet or exceed the requirements of the Manitoba Green Building Program and achieve a Manitoba Hydro Power Smart designation, the minister said. This will include a more energy-efficient building, lower energy consumption, and improved indoor air quality and ventilation.
In response to community and stakeholder requests, the design incorporates culturally relevant symbolism, natural lighting throughout and a connection to the environment with large windows and views to the nearby woodlands.
“We know that youth need to have timely access to the services and support they need when there is a mental health or addictions crisis,” said Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton at an event in Thompson today on behalf of Minister Blady. “The crisis unit supports the goals of Rising to the Challenge, Manitoba’s mental health strategic plan and the Northern Development Strategy, the province’s long-term plan to improve social, educational and economic opportunities in northern Manitoba.”
Minister Blady noted this announcement also adds to the Manitoba government’s $2-million investment in a comprehensive, multi-year children and youth mental health strategy, announced in spring of 2015.
Construction of the facility is expected to be completed next year with the new location fully operational by late 2016, Minister Ashton said.
Minister Blady also noted that planning continues on a redevelopment and expansion of the Northern Consultation Clinic in Thompson, adding this expansion builds on recent work to increase access to specialists in the region such as the new pain clinic set up in 2013.
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