Latest Health Authority construction project underway in Terrace, as work commences for Seven Sisters Mental Health Facility

Work is now underway on the new Seven Sisters Mental Health Facility
to be located as part of the new Mills Memorial Hospital build in Terrace
(Photo from Northern Health)

The next step in the improvement for Health Services in the Northwest is underway, with the Health Minister Adrian Dix announcing on Wednesday that the construction of the Seven Sisters Mental Health Facility in Terrace is now underway,

In a government statement from yesterday, the scope of the project was outlined by the Minister.

“The new Seven Sisters will ensure that when people in northwestern B.C. need mental-health support, they get timely, high-quality care close to home, which is crucial to their recovery,. We are committed to continuing to build a strong health-care service network in the region, which will help build resilient communities.” -- Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.

As the province outlines it:

The new Seven Sisters will be nearly twice as big as the existing building and include 25 beds, which is an increase from the current 20. The new facility will also add treatment rooms, meeting spaces and recreational facilities. 

Patients will have access to abundant natural light and outdoor space. 

The Seven Sisters project is part of the Mills Memorial Hospital replacement project. Construction on the new hospital started in June 2021 and is expected to be complete by fall 2024. 

The new hospital will also see an improvement in mental-health services, with 20 of the 78 beds dedicated to adult in-patient psychiatric care. 

Both the new Seven Sisters and new hospital are being built on the same site as the existing facilities. The new Seven Sisters will be on the southwestern corner of the site to the left of the existing hospital’s main entrance. 

The existing Seven Sisters facility will be demolished, and the site will be used for the new hospital. The new mental-health facility is expected to be complete in late fall 2023 

Northern Health is working alongside regional First Nations and Indigenous groups to ensure the new facilities are culturally safe, welcoming and relevant.

Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, noted how the new facility will be of service to the entire region.

“When people make the brave decision to reach out for mental-health and substance-use supports, it’s crucial that these supports are available no matter where they live. The new Seven Sisters in northwestern B.C. will bring more treatment options to northern communities, adding to the comprehensive and seamless continuum of mental-health and addictions care our government is building for all British Columbians.”

More on the expansion of health services in the Terrace area can be reviewed here.

For those wishing to follow along as the construction work moves forward, Northern Health has a live camera focused on the construction site, which you can access here.

Northern Health has also provided a background piece towards the work ahead on the Seven Sisters Facility which you can explore here.

Further Notes on Health Care in the Northwest can be reviewed from our archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.