A new hospital unit for youth with mental health and substance abuse challenges is getting built thanks to a $2 million donation from West Vancouver philanthropists, Jack and Leone Carlile.
The 10-bed wing for youth aged 13 to 18 years will be an addition on to the state-of-the-art HOpe Centre at Lions Gate Hospital.
The design will reflect a growing recognition of the need for youth-appropriate services for more effective treatment results. It will have private bedrooms, with natural sunlight, as well as spacious recreation and treatment areas, access to a gym, private spaces to reflect, read or play guitar, and areas where family members can spend time with their child or talk with staff. Patients will be able to continue with school work to normalize their schedules and support their recovery journey.
Jack and Leone Carlile have donated $2 million of the $4.7 million in capital costs to build the youth unit on the third floor of the Hope Centre. The Lions Gate Hospital Foundation is fundraising for the remaining capital costs, and the Province of British Columbia will provide the $3.1 million in annual operating costs for the unit through Vancouver Coastal Health. It is expected to be complete in spring 2017.
Jack and Leone Carlile –
“As longtime residents of the North Shore, we see this gift as a great opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the community that means so much to us. It is our hope that in the near future, the youth served by this new facility will have the opportunity to reach their full potential and in turn, help others.”
Jane Thornthwaite, Parliamentary Secretary for Child Mental Health and MLA for North Vancouver-Seymour –
“Early intervention is critical – research shows 50% of all lifetime cases of mental-health disorders start by age 14, and 75% by 24. Left untreated, mental-health and substance-use challenges frequently impact educational achievement, employment opportunities and relationships. We can’t let this be the future for our youth.”
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