Building the Mental Health Facility of the Future

The Next Phase Is Now

We've come a long way since wrecking balls and shovels first hit the ground in 2006. And with the groundbreaking on the third phase in October 2017, we've now embarked on the boldest chapter in the evolution of CAMH and the Queen Street site. When construction is completed, two new hospital buildings, with approximately 600,000 square feet of space, will feature 235 inpatient beds, a 24/7 Emergency Department, a 300-seat auditorium, a unique "therapeutic neighbourhood"for patients, and much more.

"Our new buildings will be so much more than walls, floors and ceilings. They will be respectful and dignified places that promote healing and recovery. They will be a powerful symbol of CAMH's move away from institutionalization and towards integration within our community. And they will serve our academic mission to advance mental health research, nationally and globally," said CAMH President and CEO Dr. Catherine Zahn.

One of the major benefits of these new facilities will be the co-location of research and education spaces adjacent to clinical care, creating collaborative opportunities for knowledge exchange, discovery and learning that will improve care as well as advance knowledge.

The McCain Complex Care and Recovery Building

This new signature building, made possible by the generosity of Michael H. McCain and his family, will house a number of facilities for both in- and outpatient services, including 110 beds for inpatients with serious and persistent mental illness like schizophrenia and mood disorders.

• Inpatient complex mental illness units, all with views of therapeutic green space
• Simulation Learning Centre
• Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention
• "Therapeutic neighbourhood"supporting skills development and other programming to enhance recovery
• Research and Education facilities
• Library and Patient & Family Mental Health Education and Supports (open to the public)
• 300 seat auditorium

CAMH Crisis and Critical Care Building 

The new Crisis and Critical Care Building will house a number of programs and relocate all emergency and inpatient services currently located at CAMH’s College Street site to the main site, making integrated care that much easier.

• 24/7 Emergency Department
• Partial Hospital Program
• Inpatient complex mental illness units, all with views of therapeutic green space
• Telemedicine and Outreach Services
• Transitional Age Youth Day Program (formerly Board of Education classrooms)

Mental health and the law

Part of the fourth and final phase of our redevelopment project is to replace CAMH's existing facilities for patients with complex mental illness who have encountered the legal system. The current space is an old, institutional building that was not purpose-built for modern concepts of forensic health care. If you walk on site, these are the 1960s era concrete structures near the back of the property. CAMH is mandated and funded by the province to provide forensic mental health care. This new facility will replace existing capacity and will help us to better support our patients in their recovery, ultimately making our community safer and healthier. 

Research Centre

CAMH is proposing the construction of a new research centre as part of the completion of our most recent phase of redevelopment. The proposed research centre consists of 7 storeys and will consolidate current CAMH research from across the city into one centralized location. This building is essential to our redevelopment, as it will help advance research currently being conducted to influence the future of mental health care. As a global leader in mental health research, we know that with the construction of this new facility we can continue to be at the forefront of research discoveries and developments that will improve the lives of those living with mental illness.