Background

The province of PEI has some mental health clients who require a supportive, highly structured living environment with access to clinical supports to enable a successful return to their community. These clients do not require acute mental health care; however, many of these clients have been in acute mental health beds due to a current lack of appropriate support options.

Service

Applying the Community First Model, the Social Housing: Structured Housing/Day Programming will enable effective and supported transitions of clients from acute hospital stays back to the community. This mental health treatment program includes recovery goal setting, building coping skills, building community connections, and life skills. All supports are designed to lead to healthy, independent living. This service will acknowledge and honour diverse cultural, social, and gender backgrounds and experiences.

Result

• A new, fully accessible, 20-client treatment facility, including eight residential accommodation spaces
• Access to parklands, recreational and active transportation opportunities for enhanced health and wellness

Benefits

• Reduces need for acute mental health beds
• Improves access to care and reduces wait times
• Provides an accessible, modern facility to support mental health clients to transition from an acute care setting back to the community and/or to assist clients who need additional support to remain in community settings
• Provides clients with increased opportunities for supported learning and wellness development
• Improves client privacy and accessibility
• Supports the use of virtual medicine by implementing state-of-the-art technology
• Provides a modern, state-of-the-art facility for health professionals to work in and care for patients and clients while improving the capacity to recruit and retain MH&A professionals