In an effort to improve access to mental health and addictions services for patients, Ontario is investing in expanding the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the country’s largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital. Up to two million dollars from the sale of Green Bonds will be used to fund the publicly owned, controlled and accountable facility.

The project involves the construction of two buildings at CAMH’s Queen West site that will integrate innovative treatment, research and education facilities with retail spaces, parks and the surrounding neighbourhood. It will also feature new roads, temporary parking and the development of therapeutic gardens, as well as the demolition of two inpatient buildings.

“CAMH is creating two landmark buildings on Queen Street West that will promote the care and recovery of patients with complex mental illness,” said Dr. Catherine Zahn, CEO of the Center for Mental Health and Addiction, in a press release. “These state-of-the-art hospital facilities will support advanced research, education and innovation that will change the trajectory of mental health. Our vision is a hospital fully integrated with the community, contributing to the mental health of our city, our country and the world.”

This new space will be used to accommodate inpatient and outpatient clinical services for people with complex mental illness, including emergency care and therapeutic support; research and educational facilities; and patient and family recreation and resource facilities.

The request for proposal stage of the 655,000-square-foot project was recently closed. Infrastructure Ontario and CAMH aim to announce the winning team in early 2017, with construction expected to start shortly after.