Upgrades enhance local adolescent mental health spaces

Fresh paint, murals create warm, welcoming environment for patients, families

CALGARY – A brighter environment will greet youth and their families receiving care in two local adolescent mental health units following a makeover fully funded by the Smilezone Foundation, a Canadian organization that transforms healthcare spaces for pediatric patients.

Earlier this month, a Smilezone team refurbished two adolescent mental health units at the Foothills Medical Centre, providing enhanced kitchen space to allow youth to learn daily living skills such as food preparation and cooking. The upgrades also added increased storage, fresh paint, and colourful murals depicting a mountain, a cityscape and a waterfall.

Enhancements at Youth Substance Use and Mental Health Services include expanded storage and seating, improved flow through the reception area, fresh paint, and bright murals depicting activities popular with Albertans. To personalize the murals, inspiring words based on feedback from patients, families and staff are scattered throughout the design.

“These renovations help provide a welcoming, calming environment to enable our patients to comfortably connect with each other and with staff, while feeling supported and engaged in a space they can truly call their own,” says Janet Chafe, Executive Director, Addictions and Mental Health, Calgary Zone.

Smilezone co-founder Scott Bachly says the organization wanted to make both locations a better place to be. “We want to create spaces where kids can receive care and feel uplifted and comforted,” says Bachly.

More than 1,600 youth and their families are served annually on these mental health units. The two projects were made possible through donations to the Smilezone Foundation from the Bank of Montreal, KPMG, Accor, the Calgary Flames Foundation, and Calgary Flames forward Sean Monahan.

“The Calgary Flames Foundation is happy to support Sean and the Smilezone Foundation in their efforts to make a positive impact on the lives of patients and their families,” says Calgary Flames Foundation Chairman Jeff McCaig. “We are very proud of the commitment that Sean has made to the community and his personal contributions to health and wellness services in Calgary.”

“Having the opportunity to bring a partner, like Smilezone Foundation, to the table that understands how important it is for youth to feel welcome and comfortable as part of their healing journey exemplifies the value of community partnerships in enhancing healthcare,” says Richard Horbachewski, Vice President Development for the Calgary Health Trust.

Chafe says the upgrades supplement the work of staff “who go above and beyond to provide the best possible care to everyone who walks through our doors. The areas are brighter and more welcoming, not only for patients and families, but for our staff, physicians and volunteers as well. It helps make everyone’s overall experience in the units a more positive one.”

The adolescent mental health units at Foothills Medical Centre provide inpatient care to youth aged 13 to 17 years of age managing mental health issues. Youth Substance Use and Mental Health Services provides both inpatient treatment and outpatient services to youth and families dealing with substance use and mental health concerns. The multidisciplinary teams at both sites include registered nurses, family counsellors, addiction counsellors, teachers, psychologists, occupational therapists, recreation therapists, pharmacists and psychiatrists.

Smilezone Foundation is a registered Canadian charity committed to putting smiles on kids’ faces. Founded in 2012, the Foundation’s mission is to make tough days a little brighter for kids receiving treatment in hospitals and healthcare facilities by creating fun and engaging spaces that harness the uplifting power of a smile. As of 2018, the Foundation has transformed over 200 Smilezones across Canada. Learn more about upcoming Smilezone projects at www.smilezone.com

Calgary Health Trust raises funds for health and wellness initiatives within the Calgary community to ensure everyone – young and old – is able to experience the highest quality of life. The incredible generosity of our donors has helped to raise more than $380 million for healthcare since 1996. These funds help advance technologies, programs and services at Foothills Medical Centre, Peter Lougheed Centre, Rockyview General Hospital, South Health Campus and within many community health programs and 12 Carewest care centres in our community. Visit calgaryhealthtrust.ca to learn more.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.