HGH opens new Mental Health and Addictions Center

A plaque for the new Mental health and Addictions building was unveiled in the presence of Marc LeBoutillier, HGH CEO; Dr. Suzanne Filion, Director of HGH Mental Health and Addictions Community Services; Marcel Guibord, Mayor of Clarence-Rockland; Jean-Marc Lalonde, resident of Clarence-Rockland and former MPP, Sébastien Racine, Chairman of HGH Board of Directors; Michel Laferrière, Chairman of HGH Foundation Board of Directors.

MEDIA RELEASE

CLARENCE- ROCKLAND – Hawkesbury & District General Hospital (HGH) is pleased to announce the official opening of its new Mental Health and Addictions Community Services Center serving the population of Clarence-Rockland and surroundings.

The new center located at 1905 Laurier Street in Clarence-Rockland offers intake, consultation, counselling and psychotherapy services to adolescents and adults suffering from problems related to mental health and/or addictions. .

“In Canada, one in five people suffers from mental health related problems,” acknowledges Dr. Suzanne Filion, Director of Community Mental Health and Addictions at HGH. “For over 12 years, the HGH has been at work in the Clarence-Rockland area. The Hospital has chosen to open this new service center following an increased demand from the community’s residents. We will now be in a position to support a greater number of people in need by offering complementary programs to what already exists and improving access to health care professionals in various fields,” added Dr. Filion.

A dedicated team of professionals (ex. psychotherapists, psychiatrists, social workers and counsellors) will offer various services by appointment in Clarence-Rockland: Addiction Service, Assertive Community Treatment Team, Crisis Team, Geriatric-psychiatry Service and Mental Health Treatment Service.

The HGH Foundation recognizes the importance of mental health and addiction services in Prescott-Russell. Mr. Michel Laferrière, President of the HGH Foundation, took the opportunity to announce a $300,000 donation to the three HGH Mental Health and Addictions Community Service centers located in Clarence-Rockland, Casselman and Hawkesbury.

“Statistics in mental health and addictions in Prescott-Russell and Eastern Counties are alarming,” said Mr. Laferrière. “The suicide rate is 30 % higher in Eastern counties than the Ontario average. In addition, there are twice as many smokers here than in Ottawa. HGH and its Foundation are focusing on the delivery of mental health and addiction services in Prescott- Russell by injecting an amount of $300,000 into the overall budget in order to better meet this critical need in our community”, concluded Laferrière.

HGH has been providing quality health care to the population of Prescott-Russell for 100 years. The Hospital is starting an expansion project planned for September 2014, which will double its capacity by 2017-2018. Currently, HGH has over 540 employees and 95 physicians to meet the evolving needs of the community, while nurturing its culture of compassion and innovation. With the expansion project, the HGH is growing and on its way to become a full-service regional hospital.

“HGH is proud of its expanded presence in the City of Clarence-Rockland,” says Marc LeBoutillier, CEO. “The expansion project, the purchase of cutting edge equipment and additional investments in our satellite centers in Casselman and Rockland will be beneficial to the people of these communities and will give them better access to essential and high quality health care services,” he added.

Anyone may ask for help, either for themselves or for someone they care about by calling the Mental Health and Addictions Community Services at613-446-6776 or 1-877-616-0139 for an appointment.