Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) donated $500,000 to St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton Foundation to assist with a capital project that will double the space for emergency mental health services in Hamilton.
St. Joe’s is the sole provider of emergency mental healthcare for adults in Hamilton.
The cheque was presented to the Foundation by Joseph Mancinelli, international Vice president and regional manager of central and eastern Canada.
“The pandemic is having a severe and lasting effect on the mental health of Canadians,” said Dr. Maxine Lewis, joint chief, mental health and addictions at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and Niagara Health.
“Some are experiencing severe panic attacks due to fear and anxiety, while others are depressed from long periods of isolation or job loss and economic uncertainties. Frontline workers are experiencing PTSD from all that they have witnessed and we’re seeing a host of addiction related concerns as the data shows that substance use has escalated, too.”
In addition to the $500,000 from LiUNA, Mancinelli also donated a limited-edition giclée painting entitled “Frontline Heroes.” It depicts the heavy toll the pandemic has taken on the mental health of frontline workers and by showing one caregiver comforting another outside of a patient room. The painting has been given a place of honour in the lobby of the Juravinski Innovation Tower at St. Joe’s Charlton Campus.
“Painting, for me, has always been a creative outlet to express what I am feeling that cannot accurately be portrayed in words. It is an artistic escape that allows our mind to refocus and to tell a story through art and impact the emotions of others,” he said, sharing how he turned to a creative outlet to help with his own mental health amidst lockdowns during the pandemic.
LiUNA’s $500,000 donation will assist with the creation of two separate but related care units: one for those who require urgent medical care and mental health support, but are not likely to be admitted to the hospital; and another specifically designed to help people who are experiencing more severe mental health or addiction related concerns and who may need to be admitted to the Hospital for specialized care.
It’s a $7 million project overall and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation is working with the community to raise more than $3 million to kick-start the construction while working with the Ministry of Health to request government support for this essential expansion.
“St. Joe’s is a pillar of our Hamilton community and on behalf of LiUNA we are proud of our ongoing partnership to strengthen accessible mental health outreach and support programs that impact our members, families, loved ones and our greater community,” says Joseph S. Mancinelli, International Vice President and Regional Manager of Central and Eastern Canada.
“Working in collaboration with leading medical experts of St. Joe’s we continue critical advocacy and outreach for mental health and addiction support services, while also remaining committed to building, expanding and strengthening vital infrastructure to provide a safe and comfortable space for accessible care on the journey of hope and recovery led by the team at St. Joe’s healthcare who continue to inspire us each and every day.”
In 2013, LiUNA donated $500,000 to help build the Seniors Mental Health Unit at the West 5th Campus.