No one should have to wait days — or weeks — for mental health care.
When someone is in crisis, timing, privacy, and compassion can save a life. With your support, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) can build a dedicated acute mental health program and ensure every patient feels seen and cared for.
When Kayla came to Georgian Bay General Hospital in a mental health crisis, she trusted she would be safe. The care she received from doctors, nurses, and crisis staff saved her life — but the system around them was stretched beyond its limits. With no dedicated mental health beds available, Kayla waited days for care in a public hallway, at the very moment she needed safety and privacy the most.
“I felt exposed, frightened, and vulnerable — in the exact moment I needed dignity and care.”
Kayla
Wife, mother and grateful patient
Mental health is health. And our community needs more support.
Every year, approximately 1,700 people arrive at Georgian Bay General Hospital in mental health crisis. Many wait hours — sometimes more than 100 hours — for a bed at another facility because GBGH does not yet have a dedicated acute mental health unit.
Without private, specialized space:
- Patients may wait on stretchers in hallways
- Deeply personal conversations happen without privacy
- Families are separated while loved ones are transferred far from home
- Nurses and doctors are forced to do their best without the space or resources they need
A dedicated mental health program, built with dignity at its core.
GBGH is planning a comprehensive acute mental health wing, designed specifically for people in crisis. Not hallways, not shared spaces, but a place of safety and healing. This will include:
- 24 dedicated mental health beds, including support for geriatric patients
- Day programs and outpatient services
- Care delivered by a full mental health team: nurses, psychiatrists, counsellors, therapists, crisis workers, and peer support staff
This space will mean fewer transfers, faster access to care, and more opportunities for people to seek help before reaching a breaking point.
How your gift helps...
It all starts with a bed.
Every mental health patient needs a safe place to rest and begin healing.
- $10,000 helps purchase one specialized hospital bed
- $25,000 helps fully outfit one patient room — including tamper‑proof furniture and safety features
Your gift, combined with others, helps turn this vision into reality.
You can help someone feel seen and supported.
Kayla’s story is not unique. A new mother facing postpartum depression, a senior struggling with dementia, or a teen overwhelmed by anxiety… it could be you, or someone you love.
GBGH is committed to building this acute mental health program for every person who is struggling with their mental health. Your gift today will help ensure that if you or someone you know needs help, care will be available.
Because no one should have to wait for care when they need it most.
Join us in bringing mental health care to GBGH.
