PREMIER ANNOUNCES NEW MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION SUPPORT

VANCOUVER – Premier Gordon Campbell opened the new Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction today and announced $10 million for the BC Mental Health Foundation to help support community actions that promote mental health and prevent substance abuse problems and support treatment.

Premier Campbell announced plans for the centre – the first of its kind in British Columbia – in February 2008, as part of government’s throne speech commitment to meet the needs of vulnerable populations who have complex medical, mental, physical and addiction care needs.

“This new Burnaby Centre is an important part of meeting our commitment to provide the intensive, sustained treatment that people facing challenges like mental illness and addictions need to build a healthier life for themselves,” said Premier Campbell. “At the same time, this $10-million grant will build on work already underway with people who are at risk of having mental health issues and substance misuse, while providing the best supports and treatment for people facing challenges associated with mental illness and addictions.”

Building on government’s commitment to develop an updated 10-year mental health plan, the facility will serve clients who have both addiction and mental health challenges, who have not been able to participate in existing programs due to their behaviour and addictions. The centre will provide approximately 100 treatment beds, with the initial 30 beds to open in July. The remaining 70 beds are anticipated to be ready by the end of the year. The provincial government is providing approximately $14 million annually for operating costs in addition to approximately $3.5 million one-time capital costs to retrofit the existing Willingdon facility.

“The centre complements services in the area of mental health and addiction,” said Ida Goodreau, president and CEO of Vancouver Coastal Health. “We have been able to make this centre operational in only a few months, which is a testament to the commitment of everyone involved.”

Clients will be admitted to the facility through referrals from primary health, hospitals, community-care providers and the criminal justice system. Once the new Community Court opens in Vancouver, clients may be offered the choice to be treated at the centre, as an alternative to traditional options including prison or detention centres. The Burnaby Centre will be a secure facility with safeguards in place similar to other psychiatric units.

“The new centre will function as a provincial resource,” said Lynda Cranston, president and CEO of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). “PHSA will monitor and evaluate the services going forward and ensure that appropriate clients from across the province can access this important new resource.”

The $10-million one-time grant to the Mental Health Foundation will support a “Community Action Initiative” involving the BC Alliance on Mental Health and Addictions Services, an umbrella organization representing 14 major health, social service and criminal justice organizations in the province. The alliance will partner with Aboriginal groups and others, in order to develop innovative approaches to addressing the needs of people with mental illnesses and addictions.

“The alliance is dedicated to ensuring that every citizen with a mental health problem or with problematic substance use has timely access to services that reduce harm and support recovery,” said alliance chair Dr. Jean Moore. “Thanks to the leadership of Minister George Abbott and the support of Premier Gordon Campbell, we will now have an opportunity to study and apply some of the world’s most successful practices.”

Since 2001, government has spent more than $1.1 billion to support mental health and

addiction services in British Columbia, an increase of 30 per cent. In that same time period, housing supports including community mental health beds for people with serious mental and substance use disorders have increased by 44 per cent.

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Bridgitte Anderson Press Secretary Office of the Premier 604 307-7177	Michelle Stewart Communications Director Ministry of Health Services 250 812-5571 250 952-1887 (media line)

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