BC government announces new mental health facility

Premier John Horgan announced that people struggling with severe mental illness and addiction will now receive the necessary care through the help of a new mental health and addictions centre. This centre is set to go up in Riverview lands.

“People afflicted by mental illness and addiction need better support and care. We’re getting to work to fix the problems and give people the help they need,” Premier Horgan said. “Today’s ground breaking is an important step toward improving mental health and addictions treatment services in British Columbia.”

The new 105-bed centre will offer specialized residential treatment to adults with severe mental health and addiction. The goal is to help stabilize their illness and move forward with rehabilitation and recovery.

The building will cost $101 million and will open late 2019. The new mental health centre will replace the current Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction.

Consultations played a major role in the development of the project. These consultations included people with lived experiences who use the services at the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction and their families, as well as the Kwikwetlem First Nation and the First Nations Health Authority.

“I have had the opportunity to participate in some of the planning meetings associated with this new facility. I’ve seen first-hand how much effort, experience and compassion is going into each stage of its development,” said Lisa Kofod, Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction family representative. “This new centre is symbolic of the will to shatter stigma and it brings new hope that we can do a lot to improve places and programs that help house and heal those we love.”

For more information regarding the project visit http://www.bcmhsus.ca/about/developments-in-care/centre-for-mental-health-and-addiction.