Health Minister Terry Lake was joined by philanthropists Joseph and Rosalie Segal and guests today to officially mark the start of construction on the new Joseph & Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre, which will help support those living with mental illness and substance use challenges.

“One in five Canadians is diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime. This can take a toll on families, the community and society,” said Lake. “I thank Joseph and Rosalie Segal for their generous contribution, which will go a long way to ensuring British Columbians living with mental illness and substance use challenges are given a helping hand on the path to wellness.”

The new eight-storey facility will be approximately 12,250 square metres (131,800 square feet) and be located on the grounds of Vancouver General Hospital. It will consolidate mental health and substance use inpatient, outpatient and outreach services, providing families with a seamless, safe and easy way to access care. It will have 100 private patient rooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom, exercise facilities, areas for meditation and quiet time, rooftop gardens and safe outdoor space, in addition to research and academic spaces.

The centre will be the largest purpose-built facility of its kind in the province, caring for people with mental illness and substance use problems from all walks of life.

“The cost and impact of mental illness is great—not just for families and communities, but to the health-care system itself,” said Vancouver Coastal Health president & CEO Mary Ackenhusen. “By opening a new mental health centre at Vancouver General Hospital, we will be empowered to provide effective, streamlined care using updated services to achieve the best value for our health-care dollars.”

The centre is expected to open in spring 2017 and will meet LEED Gold green building certification standards to minimize its environmental footprint.

“When this facility opens, we can look forward to it providing specialized care and support, which adults with mental illness and substance use challenges need,” said Dr. Soma Ganesan, medical director of psychiatry for Vancouver General Hospital. “Families will feel comforted by the care their loved one is provided, and clients will be provided with the services they need to help them get better and back home and in their community.”

The new centre will cost approximately $82 million. The Province is contributing $57 million. VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation and its corporate and private donors committed $25 million, including a $12 million dollar contribution from Vancouver philanthropists Joseph and Rosalie Segal—one of the largest-ever personal gifts for mental health in Canada.

“A great number of people walking the streets around the world have a mental health problem of one type or another. There is a stigma,” said Joseph Segal. “That’s why this project is so important to us, and we’re glad to see the ground broken and construction moving forward.”

“We applaud and admire the Segal’s leadership on mental health,” said VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation president & CEO Barbara Grantham. “Their generosity is inspiring others to also contribute, and we are grateful to the many families, organizations and corporations that have come forward to show their support for this important project.”

Today’s announcement builds on more supports for people with mental illness and substance use challenges, including the $62.2 million HOpe Centre at Lions Gate Hospital, a treatment facility which will support people living with mental health and substance use challenges. The centre will move patients in before the end of the year and includes an inpatient psychiatric floor, mental health outpatient clinics, the Djavad Mowafaghian UBC Medical Education Centre, a clinical research trials unit, a resource centre and a permanent home for BC Ambulance services.

In 2013-14, the Ministry of Health invested approximately $1.38 billion in mental health and substance use services, including developing an action plan to reduce barriers and support evidence-based solutions for individuals with severe addiction and mental illness. Projects completed under this plan to date include establishing a first-in-B.C. assertive outreach team, the acute behavioural stabilization unit at St. Paul’s Hospital, and expanding assertive community treatment teams.

Learn more:

Healthy Minds, Healthy People: www.health.gov.bc.ca/library/publications/year/2010/healthy_minds_healthy_people.pdf

Improving Health Services for Individuals with Severe Addiction and Mental Illness: www.health.gov.bc.ca/library/publications/year/2013/improving-severe-addiction-and-mental-illness-services.pdf

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

Viola Kaminski
Public Affairs Officer
Vancouver Coastal Health
604 708-5338