Ontario’s First Dedicated Mental Health Unit for Female Inmates
Investing to support women with acute mental health needs
The Voice of Canada News:
The Ontario government is partnering with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) to create the province’s first dedicated unit to help female inmates who have acute mental health needs. The government is investing $1.2 million this year to create the unit, and $2.3 million in following years to provide ongoing support.
Located at Ontario Shores, this new unit will have five beds to support the treatment of women who are experiencing serious mental health issues. Individuals will be referred to Ontario Shores if they need more care than can be provided within the Vanier Centre for Women.
“More than a third of the women entering our correctional facilities are experiencing some kind of issue with their mental health,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “By establishing this new partnership, we can provide better, more integrated health care supports for these women.”
Through this partnership with Ontario Shores, these beds will provide specialty psychiatric hospital care to acutely ill inmates who will benefit from a structured, secure and therapeutic inpatient setting. In addition, the dedicated unit will provide behavioral interventions, counselling, psychological assessment, Indigenous-specific care and recreational activity.
The new dedicated unit is expected to be operational by late 2020. In the interim, Ontario Shores will begin taking female inmates with acute mental health needs into their existing secure assessment unit for treatment as early as January 2020.
“We are pleased to partner with the Ministry of the Solicitor General to provide this new service,” said Karim Mamdani, President and CEO, Ontario Shores. “Everyone in our province, regardless of how they access the mental health care system, should be able to receive care when they need it and this new program takes us another step closer to providing accessible mental health care for all.”
“Individuals with mental health and addiction challenges are over-represented in Ontario’s correctional system,” said Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott. “Through this new dedicated unit, Ontario will provide mental health care for female inmates who have complex needs and require higher-acuity supports.”
“Our government is continuing to fulfill our promise of making mental health and addictions a priority,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Too many women in our justice system are affected every single day by mental health and addiction challenges. With this partnership, we are taking real action to provide better, and more comprehensive care to address the unique needs of these women.”
This is one more way the Ontario government is improving the corrections system and providing support to frontline correctional officers.
Quick Facts
On any given day, there are approximately 587 female adults in provincial custody in Ontario.
The estimated length of time an individual would spend in the new unit will vary based on individual needs.
Of Ontario’s 25 adult correctional institutions, 16 house female inmates.
