Major CAMH redevelopment project begins on Queen Street West (RENDERINGS)

Oct 3 2017, 12:15 am

A major redevelopment project has officially broke ground on the corner of Queen Street West and Shaw Street.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is starting its bold Queen Street Redevelopment Project on October 2, a day that marks the beginning of Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Upon completion, the new construction will include two new buildings (a Complex Care and Recovery Building and the Crisis and Critical Care Building) with approximately 600,000 square feet of space, and will feature 235 inpatient beds, a 24/7 Emergency Department, a 300-seat auditorium, and a new ‘therapeutic neighbourhood’ for patients.

This phase will transform care for patients with complex and acute mental illness, challenge stigma and discrimination, according to the CAMH.

CAMH’s new Complex Care & Recovery Building at the corner of Ossington Avenue and Queen Street West*

“Today’s groundbreaking is the product of years of hard work and dedication in the service of transforming care for people with mental illness,” said CAMH President and CEO Dr. Catherine Zahn in a release. “Our new buildings will be so much more than walls, floors and ceilings. They will be respectful and dignified places that promote healing and recovery. They will be a powerful symbol of CAMH’s move away from institutionalization and towards integration within our community. And they will serve our academic mission to advance mental health research nationally and globally.”

Toronto’s CAMH is Canada’s largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, and one of the world’s leading research centres in its field. The Centre uses clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.

South facing view of CAMH’s new Crisis and Critical Care Building showing green space, Patient Recovery Program, and Emergency Department entrance, as seen from White Squirrel Way

‎”This exciting next step in the redevelopment of CAMH is an example of our government’s commitment to improving access to high-quality mental health supports,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “CAMH is a nationwide leader in the mental health sector, and our government is proud to support this project which will enhance CAMH’s ability to support people in our community.”

The new developments are supported by Ontario’s provincial psychotherapy program, which provides publicly funded structured psychotherapy to help people with mild to moderate anxiety and depression. Ontario is investing up to $633 million in the expansion of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

CAMH’s new Crisis and Critical Care Building on Queen Street West at White Squirrel Way

According to the provincial government, Ontario is providing additional funding of $72.6 million over the next three years to support psychotherapy programs as part of its $140 million investment in mental health services over three years.

CAMH has also announced the new complex care centre will be named the McCain Complex Care and Recovery Centre, in recognition of Michael H. McCain and his family’s latest $10 million commitment, which brings his family’s total contributions to CAMH to over $22 million to date.

“CAMH provides vital services to the city of Toronto,” said Han Dong, MPP, Trinity-Spadina. “We all know somebody going through a difficult time, and CAMH is uniquely positioned to help Ontarians who need it most. I applaud CAMH on this new development. With it, Ontarians can get the help they need.”

Commercial-grade training kitchen designed to enable culinary certificate programs for CAMH clients

Long view through the welcoming Complex Care and Recovery Building lobby to the outdoor public courtyard and “the heart” for gathering and celebrations

* All renderings are architectural concept drawings courtesy CAMH

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