Province Cuts Ribbon On New Selkirk Mental Health Centre
November 5, 2008
SELKIRK—The new, $25-million Selkirk Mental Health Centre (SMHC) marks a major step forward in the delivery of mental-health services in Manitoba and will offer patients and their families a new level of care in a modern environment, Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross said here today at the official opening of the new 105-bed facility.“This new, leading-edge facility will enhance the very compassionate, professional care staff at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre deliver each day,” Irvin-Ross said. “The new SMHC means modern, private facilities for patients and a state-of-the-art working environment for staff.”
The new facility, named the Tyndall Building after the Tyndall stone used in its construction, includes:
· a 30-bed acquired brain injury unit consisting of three living areas of 10 beds;
· a 75-bed geriatric mental-health unit consisting of five living areas of 15 beds;
· a common room, quiet lounge and kitchen area with access to an outdoor courtyard for each unit;
· generous space for rehabilitation therapy that will include occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech language therapy;
· an independent living suite to assess brain-injured patients’ readiness for discharge back to the community;
· a family suite for members of patients’ families visiting from distant communities;
· multi-denominational and Aboriginal spiritual space; and
· a new central kitchen.
Services in the new building will include a new acquired brain-injury program to provide active, long‑term rehabilitation services to people with an acquired brain injury. The geriatric mental-health program will provide specialized services to people who are 65 and older with persistent psychiatric illness, dementia or progressive cognitive impairment.
“I’ve seen the new building and it’s wonderful,” said Blanche Nelson, a Manitoban whose son will be moving into the acquired brain injury unit. “My son will have more privacy, tailored attention to meet his needs and more independence. We’re very excited for him to make the move.”
Other key renewal initiatives are underway at the new Selkirk Mental Health Centre, Irvin-Ross said. Key elements include:
· a new five-bed transitional community residence for people with acquired brain injuries, to be constructed in Selkirk;
· a planned pharmacy renovation to introduce an automated medication packaging and distribution system to improve patient care; and
· the introduction of new information and communication technology hardware and software solutions to improve clinical efficiency, patient care and business management.
The centre’s rehabilitation program has also developed new ways to help people with severe and persistent mental illness return to the community sooner.
The Selkirk Mental Health Centre provides long-term mental-health and acquired brain injury in‑patient treatment and rehabilitation services to residents of Manitoba whose treatment and rehabilitation needs cannot be met by other services in the province.
– 30 –
