Page 9 - GBGH Foundation - Mental Health Case For Support

Why do we have to send mental health

patients from GBGH to other hospitals?

Since GBGH does not have its own acute mental health program,
we must refer our mental health patients to to other hospitals within
our region. And each hospital is unique in what specific mental

health services and programs that they are able to provide, and are
also facing increased mental health volumes coming from their own

Emergency departments.

For example, if a patient has a physical condition or injury that

deems them medically unstable, they are limited in which facilities
can treat them for both mental and physical health needs. Some
facilities can refuse patients due to alcohol level, substance

abuse levels and behavioural problems, which many mental health
patients also experience. Therefore, while people think we have the
necessary services in our community, we do not.

GBGH is projected to care for the same number of
mental health inpatients and more than 3X the number

of outpatients as Waypoint, with a fraction of the beds.

“All three regional organizations that currently have (mental health
programs) are serving their communities. We need to be able to serve

ours, while still being available to assist patients throughout the
region. The longer we are delaying care, the more problematic it is.”

– MATTHEW LAWSON, PRESIDENT & CEO, GBGH

MENTAL HEALTH CASE FOR SUPPORT • 9