Mental Health Day Hospital Now Open in Cape Breton
Cape Bretoners with intensive psychiatric needs now have more options for care and recovery with the opening of the new mental health and addictions day hospital in Sydney in June.
“This new day hospital helps people get better care, closer to home and to the support of loved ones and community, and they can sleep in their own bed at night, too,” said Brian Comer, Minister responsible for the Office of Addictions and Mental Health. “Not only does this help address some of the barriers to accessing psychiatric care, it also helps people maintain important social connections with family and friends and keep their daily routines, both of which support long-term health and wellness.”
People attending the day hospital, part of Cape Breton Regional Hospital, receive care from an interdisciplinary team of mental health specialists, which include a psychiatrist, nurses, social workers, an occupational therapist, a recreational therapist and a pharmacist. They work together to provide individual psychiatric treatment support and therapeutic group programs.
The day hospital, is open seven days a week and provides care for up to15 patients at a time.
People are referred to the day hospital through inpatient psychiatric units and emergency departments. It is a step-down treatment from an inpatient stay and a step-up from outpatient treatment.
This is the second mental health and addictions day hospital in the province. The first one opened in Halifax in April 2022 and has provided care to 137 patients while reducing wait times for hospital psychiatric care and increasing the availability of inpatient psychiatric beds for those requiring urgent or crisis care.
Reducing gaps in access to care with investments in addictions and mental health services is a solution in Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare for Nova Scotians.
Quotes:
“At day hospital, we provide psychosocial education, therapeutic support groups and lifestyle mental health behaviour changes that make clients and their families feel involved, empowered and accountable.”
– Dr. Hussein Ibrahim, psychiatrist, mental health and addictions day hospital, Cape Breton Regional Hospital
“In the short time the day hospital has been open at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, we have seen many positive impacts on the people who have been referred to this service. We continue to work as a team to improve access to care. It has been a rewarding experience to grow our services, thanks to the investments from the Office of Addictions and Mental Health.”
– Nadine Wadden, Director, Mental Health and Addictions Program, Eastern Zone, Nova Scotia Health
Quick Facts:
- the annual investment for the Cape Breton day hospital is about $1.9 million
Additional Resources:
People needing treatment and care for mental health and addictions can contact the Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service at 1-855-922-1122 to be matched with appropriate services
Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare in Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/
Mandate letter of the Minister responsible for the Office of Addictions and Mental Health: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-CNS-AMH-Youth.pdf