With Montfort Hospital taking the lead in the implementation of the Mental Health Emergency Zone (MHEZ). This highly specialized facility improves the experience and safety of patients experiencing mental health crises. A classroom at MHEZ, which opened in November 2024. It provides a private, secure, spacious, and clean environment that greatly isolates these patients from the public emergency room (ER) population. This initiative comes in response to pressing needs identified within the healthcare system, and it marks a significant step towards enhancing care for those experiencing mental health emergencies.
Dr. Kristine Levesque, the hospital’s deputy chief of staff and chief of psychiatry, reiterated how crucial MHEZ has been. Its inception is to ensure stabilization of patients in those life or death critical junctures. The space has the capacity to accommodate up to ten people at a time. It rapidly moves them from regular ER triage directly to this specialized OEM triage space. The initiative stems from two tragic incidents: a patient dying by suicide in the ER and an attempted sexual assault on a psychiatrist by a patient, both highlighting the urgent need for safer environments for vulnerable individuals.
Purpose-Built Design Enhances Safety
The creation of MHEZ was specifically tailored to meet the special needs of mental health patients. Her zone’s open, airy vibe matches the wide layout, with two treatment rooms that each keep their doors open to other staff members. One room has a treatment chair and another has a bean bag chair, making the environment much more inviting and relaxing. This collaborative-interdisciplinary setup is all the more critical to respond to the needs of patients who might be especially anxious or in distressing circumstances.
Additionally, Dr. Levesque emphasized the psychological tolls that emergency department personnel are facing. Similarly, he reported that “We have many patients on a waiting list, so we can sense, just in the air, the pressure. Before MHEZ opened, staff members reported feeling as though they were taking unnecessary risks while attending to mental health patients. She continued, “I don’t think that’s how it is now.” This would be a significant step towards ensuring that healthcare providers can work in a safe environment.
Now that MHEZ is up and running, Montfort Hospital has experienced a drastic decrease in instances dealing with these mental health emergencies. As a result, since its launch the number of incidents has decreased by an amazing 50 percent. In reality, there were zero incidents recorded at the hospital throughout the months of May, June, and August. This data specifically highlights MHEZ’s success at making a healthcare environment safer for workers and patients alike.
Positive Patient Experiences Highlighted
Patients like Rick, 66, who fully used MHEZ, offered great testimony about the clear impact the installation had on his experience. He defined that space as “a private environment, very large, very clean, very new, separated and safe.” He focused on the ways that this setting allowed him to unwind without fear of upsetting other patients. Rick’s remarks really get to the heart of what MHEZ is all about—setting a mood that helps foster improved communication between patients and clinicians.
Aissatou Bah, a psychiatric nurse at Montfort who has worked there for eight years, said she too feels hopeful about the new facility. As one physician commented, “It’s so serene and restful here. This relaxing atmosphere allows me to connect with patients and it helps me to de-escalate the ones who are triggered. This points to MHEZ’s dual function: not only does it provide comfort for patients, but it empowers healthcare providers to deliver more effective care.
In his keynote speech, Dr. Brian Cooper emphasized the role of initiatives like MHEZ in helping to meet mental health care needs across Canada. He underscored the need for these innovations to percolate out across the country, not just stay concentrated in the nation’s large urban hubs. As he noted, “We’ve had other examples come up over the years that have really met that need.”
Addressing Broader Mental Health Needs
Montfort Hospital’s efforts align with a growing recognition that traditional hospital emergency departments are often ill-equipped to handle mental health crises effectively. Marion Cooper, another expert in the field, pointed out that “in general, hospital emergency departments are not designed for mental health patients.” She explained how loud, inconsistent, and overstimulating spaces worsen symptoms like anxiety or suicidal ideation.
The launch of MHEZ is an exciting new step to rectify these gaps in emergency care. Creating that respectful and welcoming environment will go a long way in helping break the stigma around asking for mental health support. Their mission is to make sure that people in crisis get the right care, right when they need it.
