Construction wraps on new St. John's mental health and addictions centre

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services now has the keys to its new mental health and addictions centre in St. John's.

Construction of the 240,000-square foot facility is complete andthe health authority is beginning its plansto move in. The building replaces the Waterford Hospital opened in 1855 as the province's primary mental health hospital. It's expected to openthis spring.

"This building is a generational milestone in transforming mental health and addictions services in the province," interim N.L. Health Services CEO Karen Stone told reporters Thursday.

"This centre will allow us and our partners to deliver high quality, recovery oriented, person-centred care to better support patients and their families in a modern, therapeutic environment."

The facility will house 102 new beds, fullyintegrated into the province'shealth-care system, along with a new 60-bed hostel to replace the Agnes CowanHostel that was demolished in 2019.

It will also include a variety of modern care approaches under one roof, like physiotherapy, a fitness studio, art and music areas, a horticultural suite and spaces for spiritual practice.

Construction cost about $240 million, saidInfrastructure Minister Fred Hutton.

Premier Andrew Furey said the need for a new spacehas been known for years.Hestressed the importance of the facility's integration with the Health Sciences Centre, which will see two emergency departments work in tandem.

WATCH | The N.L. Health Services interim CEO says some people living at the Waterford have found places to live:

New mental health facility is complete. One difference? Patients wont live there unlike the Waterford

8 days ago

Duration 0:46

The construction on the six-story and 102-bed facility is finished in St. Johns, but it isnt ready for patients just yet. The price went up a bit to $240 million and N.L. Health Services interim CEO Karen Stone says there will be one key difference between the Waterford and the new site.

"There will be no more segregation in health care just because someone has a mental health issue or a substance use disorder," Furey said."Now patients will come to the same site they visit to attend their physical medical needs, because everyone deserves the right to live and receive treatment in their community."

Mental Health and Addictions Minister John Abbott said he's been waiting a long time for Thursday's announcement. He said he hopes the modern facility can eliminate some of the stigma that surrounds mental health care.

"Good mental health is essential to our overall health and wellbeing," he said.

"The one thing that you will notice, once when all the features are finished, is when you come to emergency, you come to emergency. And what happens [at] triage, whether you come through the physical health side of the plant or the mental health side of the plant, will be seamless. And that is going to be a game changer."

Abbott said Waterford staff willmove intoto the facility and have more tools to provide high quality care.

Stone said there will be one difference, though, in that people availing of long-term services won't be living at the facility like they once did at the Waterford.

"Unfortunately, some people still live there today. But I'm happy to say now we'll be moving those people, with supports, into the community," Stone said. "So no one will live in this building. This is a building where people [go] to heal and to be treated."

The next steps are getting the building ready for care. That includestesting, orientation and technology work. Stone hopes everything can be movedin by April.

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