44 More Beds For Severely Mentally Ill And Addicted

For Immediate Release
Feb. 3, 2010

Ministry of Health Services
Ministry of Housing and Social Development
Provincial Health Services Authority

COQUITLAM – Forty-four beds for adults with severe mental illness and substance use disorders will be opened on the Riverview grounds to provide transitional, long-term supportive housing, announced Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon.“Since the 100-bed Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction opened in 2008, we have seen that some of the more complex clients require longer-term care and supports before being able to integrate back into the community,” said Falcon. “With these new transitional facilities, we will be able to provide that care and help to prepare those clients for integration back into their communities.”

The 44 beds will be opened in two existing buildings on the Riverview grounds, though they are not part of the Riverview Hospital. Each building will house a specific client group. The first building began accepting clients this month and will house women with complex mental health and substance use disorders, which are related to traumatic life circumstances or severe events. The program will incorporate culturally appropriate care for Aboriginal women.

“Getting people prepared to live on their own with appropriate supports is crucial for many of these clients,” said Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman. “This initiative is working to house some of our chronically homeless citizens, and these new beds on the Riverview site will play an important role in that plan.”

A second existing building will begin accepting clients in May 2010, and will house young men with mental health and substance use problems, who need support and assistance with their integration and community placement. People referred to this program will have been discharged from the Burnaby Centre, but are not yet ready to return to the community.

“We have found that some of our clients are ready to move on in their treatment, but are not yet ready to live on their own – many have in fact been homeless for years,” said Dr. Michael Krausz, medical director of the Burnaby Centre. “With these new beds, these people will have a place to call home and get the continued supports that they need.”

Following a request for proposals, Coast Mental Health has been contracted by the Provincial Health Services Authority (BC Mental Health and Addiction Services) to operate the beds on the Riverview site. All medical services will be publicly funded, in accordance with the Canada Health Act. Annual operating expenditures are estimated to be around $3 million.

In 2009-10, the Ministry of Health Services expects to spend approximately $1.26 billion on mental health and addictions – an increase of more than 48 per cent since 2001. The ministry has also increased the number of community mental health beds and units by 64 per cent since 2001, and the number of community substance use beds and units by more than 200 per cent since 2003.

In addition, the Province has committed to creating more than 4,000 new housing units under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative. In 2009-10, the Province’s budget for shelters and affordable housing is approximately $450 million – more than three times what it was in 2001.

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Media contact:

Bernadette Murphy
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health Services
250 952-1887 (media line)
250 213-9590 (cell)