New Thunder Bay mental health wing to see 47.8M from province

Ontario says it will invest close to $48 million to help build a new wing at St. Joseph's Hospital in Thunder Bay to offer rehabilitation services to people with mental health issues.

The new facility will offer 38 inpatient beds, outpatient programs, community support services and videoconferencing to enhance access to specialized mental health care across northwestern Ontario.

Premier Kathleen Wynne took part in a ground-breaking ceremony for the new wing on Monday in Thunder Bay.

She said the province will cover about 90 per cent of the capital costs of the wing, which will house a Specialized Mental Health Program providing programs and services for people with mental illness or who require related services, such as active and long-term psychiatric rehabilitation and geriatric psychiatry.

The project is the final phase of the hospital's capital project to accommodate the transfer of the specialized mental health program from the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital site to the St. Joseph's Hospital site.

In addition to taking part in the grown-breaking ceremony, Premier Wynne was scheduled to be part of the 5th Anniversary Celebration of Science North, a Thunder Bay roundtable discussion with the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, and a celebration marking MP Michael Gravelle's 20th anniversary of public service.