North York General Hospital opened a new mental health zone in its emergency department Thursday, saying it aims to create a safe space for patients who come to the ER during a mental health crisis.
The space, known as the Purple Zone, will feature separate treatment rooms with trauma-friendly features such as adjustable lighting and showers, away from the typical noise of an emergency department, the hospital said. .
The hospital says it will also incorporate mental health assessments into the triage process, reducing patient wait times to see a mental health consultant.
“The need for this type of innovative, advanced mental health program is undeniable,” said Dr. Everton Gooden, the hospital’s president and CEO, at the zone’s unveiling Thursday.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in reports of mental health issues across Ontario. According to a February 2022 Canadian Mental Health Association survey, one in four Ontarians seek help for a mental health issue.
Hospitals using collaborative care models
Murat Guler is one of four non-clinical peer navigators the hospital has dedicated to working in the new zone. Peer navigators are people who have experienced mental health struggles and recovery, he said.
Through conversations with patients, Guler said he aims to break down stigma, offer comfort and foster hope for the future.
Patients in crisis often struggle to have these conversations in the noisy emergency room environment, he said.
“If you break your leg or have stomach pain, these symptoms can go unnoticed,” he says. “However, when your mental health deteriorates, small stimuli become bigger, making it difficult to think straight, let alone have a crisis.
In opening the new Mental Health Zone, Dr. Everton Gooden, president and CEO of North York General Hospital, said the need for innovative and forward-thinking mental health programs is undeniable. (Tyler Cheese/CBC)
Guler said the new zone “could be a place of peace” for patients, allowing them to feel safe.
“Once they achieve that, people will be more open to what they need to do in their lives, both in terms of treatment in the clinic and the wellness work they need to do to stay healthy and stay healthy.” he said.
By incorporating nurses trained in both emergency medicine and psychiatry into the emergency department team, patients receive comprehensive holistic care, said Dr. Kevin Wasko, the hospital’s chief of emergency medicine and program medical director. He said he could.
This will allow nurses to begin mental health assessments during the triage process, rather than waiting for a mental health consultant.
Dr. Kevin Wasko, chief of emergency medicine and program medical director at North York General Hospital, said nurses on the emergency department team will receive training in both psychiatry and emergency medicine. (Tyler Cheese/CBC)
While other Toronto hospitals have established mental health zones in their emergency departments, Wasko said the model is “very innovative” in its approach to sharing duties between psychiatry and emergency medicine.
“This is truly a collaboration,” he said.
Helping patients feel comfortable
“Purple Zone is an exciting realization of a patient-driven vision that began 10 years ago,” said Sandy Marangos, clinical director of the hospital’s mental health and addictions program.
Malango, who has been a mental health nurse for decades, said the conversation started with the hospital’s patient advisory committee. She recalled patients saying they wanted a safe, quiet place in the emergency department to facilitate discussions with her staff.
Malangos said staff from community partners such as Eva’s Homeless Youth Initiative will also be integrated into the new mental health zone.
Richard St. Onge, a former patient who attended the zone’s unveiling, said that if the space had existed when he went to the ER four years ago when his depression wouldn’t go away, he said, “It would have been amazing,” he said.
St. Onge said she felt paranoid and uncomfortable as she discussed her mental health in a crowded environment.
“I was wondering what people thought of me,” he said. “I was looking at the nurses’ station and I thought people thought I was a fraud.”
Richard St. Onge, a former North York General Hospital patient who came to the emergency room while dealing with a mental health crisis four years ago, said the new mental health zones provide privacy and reduce patient restraint. He says he can do it. (Tyler Cheese/CBC)
Mr St Onge said if a new mental health zone had existed at the time, it would have been “phenomenal” for him. In this private setting, he said, people can feel less paranoid and inhibited about speaking publicly.
“I feel safe here. I can be honest and be open,” he said. “There’s no need to feel embarrassed.”
