IWK receives $25M for mental health, addictions services

A historic donation to the IWK Health Centre will help Maritime children who are living with mental health and addictions issues.

The Halifax hospital announced Monday it had received $25 million from the Garron family, representing what the IWK Foundation called the largest individual donation in health care in the Atlantic region. 

Berna and Myron Garron, who is originally from Westport, N.S., have previously donated to the IWK Health Centre and their philanthropy led to the creation in 2014 of the Garron Centre for Child & Adolescent Mental Health.

Their latest financial support will be used to improve mental health and addictions services for youth, children and families for both urgent and non-urgent cases, creating what the hospital describes as a "mental health and addictions ecosystem."

That includes the creation of a dedicated mental health waiting room in the emergency department and the connection of eight integrated youth services sites to provide patients with more options for their care. 

Alexa Bagnell, chief of psychiatry at the IWK, said some patients who require care beyond outpatient services but are not in an emergency situation face wait times of up to 28 days for an appointment with a specialist. 

With 30 to 40 children now on psychiatric waiting lists, she says this project is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to integrate and expand mental health services. 

"This is the last area of our ecosystem where we know we need more support," Bagnell said. "We need to really think about our spaces. We need to bring the services together so that we can meet the needs of our kids in the province, but also in the Maritimes." 

Mental health crisis in children

Bagnell said she has seen a decline in mental health, particularly in children. 

In 2020, Statistics Canada reported that the percentage of young people ages 15 to 24 with good mental health dropped to 40 per cent from 62 per cent in 2018, marking the largest decline among all age groups.

"The only area that's really changed in the last decade is an increased rate of anxiety disorders and that is the one thing that's seen internationally. And that area is one we know there is more stress in our environment, especially for young people," she said. 

'Safe place' for patients

Canon Beazley was diagnosed with cancer at age 11, but even after he beat it, his trips to the IWK did not stop there. 

He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from his battle with cancer, which gave him anxiety and panic attacks. 

Beazley, who is now 14, said his experience at the IWK has helped him find coping mechanisms. He described the hospital as his "safe space."

"I always feel comfortable here 'cause I know that they're going to do everything in their power to be able to help me. And they did," he said.

He hopes the new project will help others get through the challenges of mental health illness and addiction.

"This donation is going to affect all the children in Atlantic Canada. And it's just so heart-warming to know that they are there for us as well."