Mental Health Care at SHN

Creating a Healing Space for Mental Health at Birchmount Hospital

SHN is building a modern, inpatient mental health unit at Birchmount Hospital — a dedicated space designed to provide compassionate, seamless, and recovery-focused care for patients facing mental health challenges.

Imagine what we could do with more.

The mental health teams at Scarborough Health Network provide vital care every day, despite limited space and rising demand.

65,000+
65,000+ outpatient visits annually for mental health care
7,400+
7,400+ inpatient admissions each year
20%
20% of Canadians will experience mental illness at some point in their life
Imagine what we could do with more.

The mental health teams at Scarborough Health Network provide vital care every day, despite limited space and rising demand.

65,000+
65,000+ outpatient visits annually for mental health care
7,400+
7,400+ inpatient admissions each year
20%
20% of Canadians will experience mental illness at some point in their life
Imagine what we could do with more.

The mental health teams at Scarborough Health Network provide vital care every day, despite limited space and rising demand.

65,000+
65,000+ outpatient visits annually for mental health care
7,400+
7,400+ inpatient admissions each year
20%
20% of Canadians will experience mental illness at some point in their life
Imagine what we could do with more.

The mental health teams at Scarborough Health Network provide vital care every day, despite limited space and rising demand.

65,000+
65,000+ outpatient visits annually for mental health care
7,400+
7,400+ inpatient admissions each year
20%
20% of Canadians will experience mental illness at some point in their life

A new unit for mental health

The new inpatient unit will:

  • Building a new spacious, calm, and private healing environment at Birchmount Hospital
  • Offer access to outdoor green space proven to improve recovery, mood, and cognitive function
  • Support innovative outdoor programming, including gardening and physical fitness
  • Provide a safe, culturally sensitive space reflecting Scarborough’s diverse community
  • Ensure smooth care transitions between inpatient and outpatient services

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“One of my patients was a 57-year-old woman who came to Canada as a refugee. She had survived years of abuse, and shortly after arriving, she lost her son in a tragic car accident back home. She became severely suicidal. But through culturally informed care, we were able to help her begin processing her grief — in her own language, and with an understanding of the trauma and context she carried.”

Dr. Arian Behzadi, psychiatrist at SHN.

In the News

Discover how SHN’s new Community Mental Health Centre is transforming care in Scarborough, featured on CBC News.

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Read the CBC article
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