Major Mental Health Project

“I want to speak on behalf of a young man who was admitted for a first episode of psychosis. He is suspicious and hears disparaging voices. He was admitted against his will and does not consider that he is sick. He can be aggressive. His hospitalization will be the first step along a difficult path: agreeing to treatment, coping with side effects, relapsing, learning to trust the team working on his behalf. The hardest part, however, will be to regain control of his life: family, friends, work, plans, dreams. Regain his dignity. His hospitalization will be the first step in an arduous journey…

For him, a spacious, pleasant and safe unit is a first step to regaining that dignity. Not only is it conducive to recovery, but it sends a message that each person, including those with a serious mental illness, is important. All deserve to be cared for in the same way as anyone who has a physical illness or a disease, such as cancer.

That’s why I think this major renovation project is inspiring, and a testament to our values of equality and inclusion. I hope that I have passed on to you the passion that drives our department and I encourage you to give generously to the cause of mental health. Together, let’s build a dignified environment that is conducive to the recovery of patients being treated for mental health issues.”
Dr. Evelyne Thuot, MD, Psychiatrist, Chief of Psychiatry

The “Together, Creating a Favourable Recovery Environment” campaign is a major mental health project at Hôpital du Haut-Richelieu. The project consists in reorganizing, between 2021 and 2025, the psychiatric hospitalization unit of Hôpital du Haut-Richelieu in order to make significant improvements to the current care unit by addressing issues of obsolescence, accessibility, ergonomics, safety and appearance. A stay in a psychiatric ward is a milestone event in any life.