The B.C. government has opened the Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, which provides 75 inpatient psychiatric beds.
“For too long, children, youth and adults living with mental health and substance use challenges have struggled to get quick access to the supports they need and deserve,” said Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “The new Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre is a wonderful healing space with 75 beds and several new and expanded outpatient clinics to support people on their healing journey.”
Located at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, the nearly 37,000 square-metre (393,000 square-foot) centre offers outpatient services including a mood disorder clinic, expanded clinics for adolescent psychiatry, reproductive psychiatry and psychiatric urgent referral, as well as group therapy and neuropsychology clinics.
Fraser Health is taking a phased approach to opening the new centre, which began with the opening to outpatients on July 13, 2020. Bird Design-Build Construction Inc. completed the project, as part of phase one of the hospital’s redevelopment.
To support people living with substance-use challenges, the centre will provide expanded addiction services through a new addictions medicine and substance-use clinic.
The Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre will also be home to a new electroconvulsive therapy clinic that will provide people with access to neurostimulation, a treatment that uses electrical signals to provide relief to patients affected by neurologic and psychiatric disorders, as well as chronic pain. The centre will be the new regional site for this service.
In addition, the centre is the first in the Fraser Health region to offer a specialized unit for seniors dealing with acute depression, anxiety or psychosis. The centre was built using a patient-centred design that had input from patients, families, psychiatrists and clinicians.
The new centre is an inviting, spacious and therapeutic sanctuary where patients can feel safe, respected and supported in their recovery. The centre features plenty of windows and natural light. To further support a diverse and culturally safe environment, First Nations artwork will help create a calming and welcoming environment for patients while they recover.
Inpatient units at the centre include spaces for patients to be social, spaces to spend time alone, a lounge for visiting with family, friends and other patients, a secure outdoor patio and an exercise room. All of the patient rooms are private spaces with ensuite bathrooms.
