A generous gift to the IWK Foundation.

Bell Let’s Talk, the largest ever corporate commitment to mental health in Canada, has donated $1 million that will support a dedicated mental health space in the hospital’s Emergency Department.

It will be a separate waiting area that will provide a private, confidential environment for children, youth and families.

“Bell is proud to play a role in providing cutting-edge mental health care to young people from across the Maritimes by creating a mental health and addictions area within the IWK Emergency Department,” said Mirko Bibic, President & CEO, Bell Canada. “The new waiting room will contribute to the quality of care at what is a difficult time for youth and their families and make a real difference as to whether or not they seek treatment in the future.”

The IWK is only of only several hospitals across Canada where medical and psychiatric care are fully integrated in the ER. 96 per cent of patients cared for at the IWK Garron Centre for Child & Adolescent Mental Health (acute inpatient care) are admitted directly from the IWK ED.

“We continue to see a consistently high number of crisis visits to the IWK Emergency Department for mental health and addictions (MHA), and about 25 percent of these patients require admission for inpatient MHA care,” said Dr. Alexa Bagnell, Chief of Psychiatry, IWK Health. “Research in stigma and trauma informed care shows that experience in the Emergency Department impacts how patients and families feel about seeking future mental health care. The new Emergency Mental Health and Addictions area will provide a safe, private space for our patients and families in an environment that complements the exceptional care from our well-trained emergency mental health and addictions clinicians and physicians.” 

The IWK Foundation’s goal is to raise $26.5 million to purchase special equipment, facility upgrades, enhancement and research.