Mental Health & Addiction Services: Inpatient Mental Health Services

Inpatient Nursing Station

Inpatient Mental Health Services is made up of acute inpatient, day patient and outpatient mental health programs for adults and youth. Most of these programs are located on two floors (level 1 and level 0) of a new facility attached to the south end of the Regina General Hospital. This new facility features plenty of natural light on both levels and a lower level walk-out to an enclosed courtyard for outdoor activities.

Programs

Adult Inpatient Unit
The Adult Inpatient Unit is located on the main level (Unit 1 - D) of the Inpatient Mental Health Services facility, at the south end of the Regina General Hospital. The entrance is off 15th Avenue. The unit is divided into the East and West Wings, totaling 50 inpatient beds for adults (usually, age 18 and over) experiencing severe mental health problems that cannot be managed in a community setting.

Patient and family-centred care is provided in a comprehensive, continuous, coordinated and highly individualized manner. Patients are intimately involved in the decision-making processes regarding their care. Case and family conferences occur frequently throughout the course of an admission, and planning for a smooth and successful discharge begins on admission.

In addition to one-to-one nurse and physician counselling, patients are involved in a variety of adjunctive therapies including psycho-educational groups, plus relaxation, recreational and activity therapies. The use of psychotropic medication is a common part of inpatient care. Other therapies, such as Electro-convulsive Therapy (ECT), are used in very selected cases.

Admission to the Adult Inpatient Unit is arranged by a psychiatrist with admitting privileges in the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, whether on staff at the Mental Health Clinic or Child and Youth Services, or in private practice in the community. Some of the Region's staff psychiatrists have a predominantly in-hospital practice, while others have a community-based practice. Still others have a mixed style of psychiatric clinical practice. The vast majority of patients on the Adult Inpatient Unit are admitted voluntarily for care. However, this unit is designated under the Mental Health Services Act, and on occasion, it is necessary to admit patients against their will, in accordance with the Act.

Outpatient Programs
Outpatient mental health programs are located on the lower level (Unit 0 - D) of the Inpatient Mental Health Services facility, at the south end of the Regina General Hospital. The entrance is off of 15th Avenue. Outpatient programs include:

• Clozaril Clinic
• Depot Medication Clinic
• Outpatient ECT (Electro-convulsive Therapy)

Adolescent Inpatient Unit
Although it is preferred to treat adolescents with mental health problems in the community, some adolescents who require acute inpatient care may be admitted to the Adolescent Unit located on unit 4 - B at the Regina General Hospital. Admission is generally done by one of the Child Psychiatrists.

In addition to care on the Unit, adolescents may take advantage of special therapeutic programming provided by the Adolescent Day Hospital Program (on the Inpatient Mental Health Unit, Unit 0 - D) while they are still in hospital. They may also continue in the Day Hospital Program after discharge, and are likely to be followed-up by a psychiatrist and a counsellor at Child and Youth Services.

In very exceptional circumstances, when an adolescent is severely disturbed, he or she may be admitted to the Adult Inpatient Unit for a period of stabilization.

Mental Health Day Hospital Program

Day Hospital Activity Hall

Day Hospital Courtyard

The Mental Health Day Hospital Program is located on the lower level (Unit 0 - D) of the Inpatient Mental Health Services facility, at the south end of the Regina General Hospital. The entrance is off of 15th Avenue. The Program provides care to patients during their transition from hospital care to community care. In some cases, the Day Hospital Program can be an alternative to inpatient care.

The program offers patients individualized treatment that helps to restore their mental health and wellness. A variety of group and individual interventions are provided.

The Day Hospital Program can accommodate a maximum of 40 full-time patients referred by a psychiatrist.

The goals of the program are to:

• provide timely, accessible care to those with mental health disorders by offering intervention, treatment and
• support in the community as an alternative to hospitalization
• provide support services in the transition phase between acute hospital care and community follow-up
• promote, restore and maintain mental heath and wellness through coordinated, integrated and cost-effective services.

Psychosocial Skills Training Group
Special group programming for persons diagnosed with personality disorder is available through your physician or individual counsellor.

RGH Emergency Department Mental Health Service
The Emergency Department at the Regina General Hospital now has an Emergency Psychiatric Nurse Coordinator on staff, to assist in individualized assessment and care of individuals who present to the Emergency Department with mental health or addictions concerns. The Emergency Psychiatric Nurse Coordinator works closely with the emergency room physicians, on-call psychiatrists, the Mental Health Inpatient Unit, Community Mental Health, Addiction Services and other Region and community stakeholders to deliver high quality, coordinated services for these patients. In addition, the Coordinator provides patient and family education and support while the patient is in the emergency department.

The Care Team

All Inpatient Mental Health Services Programs are made up of multi-disciplinary teams including:

• registered psychiatric nurses
• registered nurses
• licensed practical nurses
• psychiatric attendants
• recreation therapists
• psychiatrists
• social workers
• psychologists
• dietitians, pharmacists, family physicians, medical specialists and spiritual care workers.

Of course, the patient and family are also considered essential members of the care team.

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