New mental health beds added on Sunshine Coast

GIBSONS – The Sunshine Coast will see added health care capacity and health care jobs with the addition of 28 specialized mental health beds scheduled to open in 2012.

The tertiary mental health rehab beds are part of Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH) plan to provide a full continuum of care that is closer to home for residents with mental health challenges.

“Our government is providing the best supports for people facing challenges associated with mental illness and addiction,” said Health Services Minister Colin Hansen. “These additional mental health beds on the Sunshine Coast will support our commitment in providing care for people with mental health issues closer to where they live.”

The specialized mental health beds will be in a renovated Kiwanis Village in Gibsons. There will be more than 30, new permanent jobs attached to the site for nurses, rehab assistants, mental health workers, social workers and occupational therapists.

“The Gibsons facility will allow us to provide for the most beneficial health outcomes in keeping with best medical practices,” said Dr. Lance Patrick, Medical Director, Mental Health & Addiction Services. “Research has shown that consumers recover better in smaller community residential care sites such as what we will have in Gibsons, rather than in a large institution.”

The Gibsons site will serve stable clients with serious and persistent mental illness who require specialized services and a longer period of time beyond hospital to develop skills, receive support, and engage in recovery activities. The length of stay is expected to be six to 24 months followed by supportive discharge plans for clients to return to their home communities.

The Gibsons site will include VCH clients from the Sunshine Coast, Powell River, and other areas. Sunshine Coast residents will have full use of specialized mental health services VCH is developing in other areas of the health authority as well. The service in Gibsons is part of an integrated approach to mental health care which will allow all levels of care to be available to all residents within VCH

Vancouver Coastal Health is responsible for the delivery of $2.9 billion in community, hospital and residential care services to over one million people in communities from Richmond through Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola.

Media contactLorna Howes, Director                          
Vancouver Mental Health & Addiction Services         
Phone: 604-708-5253 to arrange interview   

Brenda Langevin, Director
Coastal --Powell River & Sunshine Coast
Phone: 604-885-8614