MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE WELLNESS CENTRE OPENING IN 2020

A new state of the art 75-bed Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre is coming to Royal Columbian Hospital, Fraser Health’s regional centre of excellence for acute mental health. With more space and 150% more beds than the current aging Sherbrooke Centre, the hospital will be able to treat more inpatients and more outpatients each year to support the growing demand for acute mental health services.

The new building will have three floors of inpatient units including 45 beds for acute mental health care, a 10-bed Psychiatric High Acuity Unit, and Fraser Health’s first Older Adult Mental Health Unit with 20 beds. The main floor includes outpatient clinics, a cafe, lobby, plus clinical research and education space. An underground parkade and an Energy Centre that provides power to the entire hospital will also be part of the facility.

The new contemporary facility is inspired by the Fraser River and will use patient-centred design that has had input from our psychiatrists, clinicians, patients and their families. The result will be an inviting, spacious, and therapeutic sanctuary where patients can feel safe, respected, and supported in their recovery. Lots of windows and natural light, views of the river, wood finishings, nature and First Nations motifs, and ‘green’ building features will create a beautiful, calming place for patients. The Older Adult Mental Health Unit will also include elder-friendly lighting, hallways, furniture, and equipment to support the care of seniors. Patients will have private rooms with ensuite bathrooms

Each inpatient will have their own private bedroom, with an ensuite bathroom and shower.

Every unit will have a variety of spaces including group therapy and consult therapy rooms. New features include exercise rooms, quiet lounges, comfort rooms for sensory therapy, and outdoor patios. All this will offer inpatients a greater range of therapeutic activities and opportunities to engage with each other, staff, therapists and psychiatrists. Everything is intended to promote well-being, engagement in therapy, and recovery.

A new beautiful, therapeutic place for mental health care

Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment

Covered outdoor patios will have views of the river

Patients will have both quiet and social spaces to enjoy

The visitor entrance will be on the west side, off Keary St.

Outpatient clinics will be located on the main floor

Expanded outpatient services

More mental health services will be offered through outpatient clinics on the main floor:

• A Mood Disorder Clinic to support patients dealing with anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.

• An expanded Reproductive Psychiatry Clinic to help women and their families who need support with mental health concerns related to pregnancy or post-partum.

• An expanded Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic for youth aged 13 to 17 diagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

• An expanded Psychiatric Older Adult Clinic for seniors with mental health challenges.

• A new Addictions Medicine and Substance Use Clinic for people needing support with their substance use.

• An expanded Psychiatric Urgent Referral Clinic for people who require urgent assessment but who do not need to be admitted to hospital.

• A Group Therapy Clinic to provide support and education in a group setting for patients who have specific clincial concerns such as depression or anxiety.

• A Neuropsychology Clinic for people needing specialized cognitive testing and assessment.

Live video virtual health capabilities will also help transform care. In the future, psychiatrists and therapists will be able to do video consults with patients staying at a community site, such as a residential care home, or with a community-based mental health team to discuss discharge plans or on-going care. This can mean a more seamless transition into community care for patients leading to fewer hospital admissions and Emergency visits. Community-based care teams will also be able to use virtual health to check-in with their clients who’ve been admitted to our Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre.

More teaching and research

Royal Columbian is Fraser Health’s education hub for UBC’s Psychiatry Residency Program and our new facility will have more space for psychiatric research and for teaching medical students, psychiatry residents, psychologists, and other health professionals.

page 2

Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment

Updated July 2019