P.E.I. opens 'beautiful, bright' new transition space for mental health clients - Action News
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PEI

P.E.I. opens 'beautiful, bright' new transition space for mental health clients

The new building is part of a mental health and addictions campus in Charlottetown that began construction in 2020.

'The big focus here would be to get people back into the community'

View of room with cushioned chair, side table and large windows.
The facility has large windows, making the rooms bright and giving clients the opportunity to enjoy the view. (Sheehan Desjardins/CBC)

A new facility in Charlottetown to support those with mental health challenges is being described as a welcoming space for people making the transition from the hospital to the community.

"We have a residential area which is really beautiful, bright rooms with a lot of light, beautiful views as well. Soit will give people that sense of peace," said Dr. Ida Pienaar, one of the psychologists who helped design the mental health structured programming that will be offered at the facility.

The new facility is part of a provincial mental health and addictions campus that began construction in 2020 and which will eventually include a replacement for the Hillsborough Hospital.

This is the second building to open on the campus; the first was an addictions care facility for women opened in June 2022.

Dr. Ida Pienaar at lecturn in kitchen.
Graduating clients will be consulted on the further development of the program, says Dr. Ida Pienaar. (Sheehan Desjardins/CBC)

The new 10,000-square-footbuilding, divided into spaces for day and residential clients, will offer a 28-day program for people who are psychiatrically stable, recently released from hospital and looking for help integrating into the community.

Staff at this newfacility will include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists, residential care workers and social workers.

The program was designed to be time-limited in order to allow as many people as possible to take advantage of it.

"We want people to flow through and, again, the big focus here would be to get people back into the community," said Pienaar.

"It doesn't mean people can't come back and do it, but with a 28-day program more people can benefit."

Making dinner, and cleaning up afterward

While there will not be a focus on addictions, there will be a recognition that addictions are part of the background of many of the clients, said Pienaar.

Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress are expected to be the most common ailments clients will bring to the program.

Kitchen with stove, oven, coffee maker, kettle, blender and mixer.
Clients will make their own meals and clean up afterward. (Sheehan Desjardins/CBC)

Life skills will be a big part of what is offered, said Thane MacEwen, director of mental health and addictions for the province.

"Some of them need that structure, need that program, need those life skills," said MacEwen.

"Making your lunch, making your bed, knowing that stuff, taking your medication as prescribed. So we'll do a lot of teaching here."

Exterior view of mental health structured programming facility, with snow on the ground.
The facility has separate entrances for day and residential programs. (Sheehan Desjardins/CBC)

Graduating clients will have a lot of say in how the program develops in the future, said Pienaar.

"We are going to take their feedback and we are going to make changes as needed," she said.

"The feedback from clients will tell us if this is successful or not."

The space has room for 20 clients in its day program, and eight in its residential program. The day program will take in its first clients on Monday.

With files from Sheehan Desjardins