Southlake welcomed the first patients to a newly completed 12-bed Adult Inpatient Mental Health Unit earlier today thanks to the generosity of donors who contributed $7.5 million to help make it possible. The new unit prioritizes the needs of mental health patients by focusing on space, privacy, dignity, and support while protecting everyone’s health and safety to promote healing and recovery.
Southlake launched the Better Begins Today fundraising campaign to support mental health care at Southlake in October 2020 to help cover the remaining costs of the program’s expansion following a funding announcement of $6.5 million from the Ontario government. Through the incredible support of the community, a $7.5 million fundraising goal was reached that enabled the building of the new 12-bed Adult Inpatient Unit, the Emergent Mental Health Assessment Unit and other site improvements to transform mental health care at Southlake.
“Mental health care needs more than medicine. We are so grateful to our community of donors who stepped up to support our campaign and have enabled us to build a place of peace, dignity, and security for patients in crisis, close to home,” said Jennifer Ritter, President and CEO of Southlake Foundation. “It’s an extraordinary achievement we can all be proud of.”
From the outset of the campaign, community and business leader Michael Croxon, CEO, The NewRoads Automotive Group, and member of Southlake’s Philanthropy Cabinet, has demonstrated his philanthropic leadership and has now committed an additional $500,000 in support to bring the campaign to a successful close.
“As part of the Philanthropy Cabinet at Southlake, I understand how important this campaign is to the communities NewRoads has called home for the past 20 years,” said Croxon. “Every one of us is either personally touched or are just one connection away from someone who is working through mental health challenges. Southlake’s Mental Health Program is crucial to caring for our communities and I am so proud in conjunction with my wife Sharon and my 430 NewRoads associates to support this campaign.”
Space is an extremely important factor in a patient’s care journey. The new unit will offer a peaceful healing environment with space and natural lighting, helping clinicians and staff to treat patients with dignity.
“We are thrilled with the new 12 bed mental health unit,” said the Mental Health Patient and Family Advisory Council at Southlake. “We know this is only the beginning and we look forward to working with the hospital and the Ontario government to build on mental health supports in our community for patients and families in need.”
With the right space as a tool, Southlake’s compassionate team can provide leading edge care and best results for patients.
“Without the generosity of our gracious community of donors, this expansion would not have been possible,” said Arden Krystal, President and CEO, Southlake Regional Health Centre. “We’re extremely grateful to have a community that supports us and allows us to continue to build to meet their needs.”
