Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care

If you’re a mental health researcher or academic, the Waypoint Research Institute is offering a chance to present at the InSPIRE 2025 conference, taking place June 2-4, 2025 at the Village Conference Centre in Blue Mountain, Ont. This is your chance to showcase your groundbreaking work and contribute to the advancement of the mental health and substance use sector. Join us for a dynamic and interactive event that will showcase cutting-edge and inclusive approaches to research, practice, and engagement. Don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity! Ready to apply? Visit our website at https://lnkd.in/gjcNJmvJ to learn more and submit your abstract today. We can't wait to see you there!

Happy New Year! 🎉 Here's to new beginnings. ✨

2024 has been an amazing year at Waypoint. Working together as a team and with our patients and partners, we have provided compassionate and excellent care to our patients, embraced change, launched new research studies and provided leadership across the mental health and addiction sector, and in specialized geriatric services. These accomplishments are changing lives and strengthening a healthcare system that better meets the needs of the individuals and communities we serve. There have been so many moments here at Waypoint over the past year that have been remarkable. We are proud to share some highlights of our accomplishments from 2024. See the full list here: https://bit.ly/4fiPkGo

Compassion, strength, and resilience are at the heart of Waypoint. Our new website and branding - launching soon - reflect our dedication to patient-focused care and recovery. As we prepare to launch over the next two weeks, we’ll be sharing some exciting glimpses of what’s to come! Stay tuned 👀 #StayTuned #NewChapter #WaypointMentalHealth

This year, Waypoint began one of the largest and most complex initiatives by implementing The Model of Care with Six Core Strategies project. After launching on two units in March, it has since gone live on all of our high-secure forensic mental health care programs. Hundreds of staff have participated in training and patient care is being transformed. This has been well received by patients and staff alike — a huge achievement that required the contributions of many team members. To learn more about our work, visit: https://bit.ly/3XdZKBO

This summer, members of the Spiritual Care Team constructed a sweat lodge in the Spiritual Care Courtyard. Waypoint was the first Ontario hospital to have a sweat lodge, and we’ve been thrilled to reinstitute this after the pandemic, as it provides patients access to a form of therapy based on the sacred values, beliefs and traditions of Indigenous peoples. To learn more about our programs, visit: https://bit.ly/4eOBuwp

Waypoint’s North Simcoe Muskoka Specialized Geriatric Services is leading the Behaviour Success Agent program in partnership with hospitals across the region. This program supports hospitalized older adults with dementia and behaviours, the program is enabling them to return to their homes sooner. In addition, Dr. Katie Bingham has received a three-year $750,000 CIHR grant to study the impact of the program, with an eye toward expanding it to other hospitals. To learn more about this program, visit: https://bit.ly/3NBQEsE

The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, celebration and togetherness. But for many, it can bring feelings of stress, sadness or loneliness. Whether you’re navigating personal challenges, missing loved ones or simply feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to remember that it’s okay to not feel “merry and bright.” Your mental health matters and help is available when you need it. Here is a list of resources for both immediate and non-urgent mental health support to help you or someone you care about find the support and peace you deserve this holiday season. And remember, be kind, because you never know the battles others may be facing. We rise by lifting others. 🤍 For a full list of resources, please visit: https://bit.ly/3OPQONF

We began construction in July on a new 20-bed inpatient unit that will address the growing need for specialized mental health and addiction care throughout Simcoe Muskoka and the surrounding area. It will also include the first psychiatric ICU beds in Central Ontario, making care safer for those with the most severe illnesses. Together with leading the launch of a new digital system to manage bed access and flow collaboratively, this enables us to support the emergency departments of eight hospitals. To read more, visit: https://bit.ly/4cpXigi

Yesterday, Rob Desroches and I had such a blast connecting with staff all across our main campus (and bringing some goodies) to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of 2024 and thank everyone for their contributions, including and especially everyone working during the holidays. A few moments and reflections from this very moving experience: - many staff who are working on Christmas and Hanukkah choose to do so in order to support other team members to spend time with their families - such a beautiful way of caring for each other - new members of the Waypoint team spoke about the warm Waypoint welcome they have received from colleagues and the meaningfulness of their work here - there is a growing recognition of how EVERYONE’S contributions make amazing things happen around here For example, to name just a few ‘behind the scenes’: - the materials management / central stores team have been integral to supporting the renovations for our new 20 bed acute mental health unit, as well as our new rTMS neurostimulation treatment program - data analytics is a rapidly growing team whose contributions include supporting innovative integrated care models Waypoint is leading with partners across the region (such as North Simcoe Muskoka Specialized Geriatric Services) - housekeeping staff regularly connect with patients with compassion that helps combat stigma and promote recovery - as the administrator on call for the holidays I know how vital the staffing office and central intake teams are to supporting patient care and access and flow of patients across the region - the recreation team and food services team have thoughtfully brought patients and staff together in holiday cheer with a variety show, caroling, gingerbread house competition, and delicious turkey meal There is so much more… but to bring this essay to a close, for now I’ll just say I’m so grateful and humbled to be at the helm of such a remarkable organization… filled with talented and passionate people who bring their expertise, compassion and teamwork in service to our patients and in support of each other in this challenging and meaningful work. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️