The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has announced an expansion of service at Calder Centre with the staffing and opening of six new resident treatment beds at Calder Centre, a provincial addictions treatment facility based in Saskatoon.
“This government is improving access to a continuum of addictions services with new funding for treatment beds, counselling, harm reduction and pre- and post-addiction treatment supports,” said Health Minister Jim Reiter. “Addictions issues are complex and individual and these new, in-patient adult beds at Calder Centre build on our ability to provide a range of support services people need on their recovery journey.”
In the 2019-20 Budget, the Government of Saskatchewan committed $402 million into mental health supports and services – a $30 million increase from last year. A total of $8.39 million in funding is allocated to create 140 new beds to treat individuals with mental health and addictions challenges. This includes funding for new community residential support beds, new pre and post addictions treatment beds and six new inpatient addictions beds for youth, including $380,000 to create six new beds at Calder Centre.
Calder Centre Adult Program is an inpatient program providing a safe supportive environment to help individuals with substance use disorder using the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual understanding of addiction and recovery. The program supports individuals who may struggle with use of a range of substances including alcohol, prescription and non-prescription stimulants, cannabis and opioids.
“This investment is about more than beds. It’s about an investment in people – our clients, their families, and our staff,” said Colleen Quinlan, Executive Director for Mental Health and Addictions in Integrated Urban Health with the SHA. “We utilized this investment to make some minor purchases and directed the majority of the funding to expand our team here at Calder Centre, including three addictions counselors and additional nursing support. This will ensure we have the people in place to support the care of potentially up to 70 more people a year who are ready to engage in residential treatment.”
Residential treatment is part of the continuum of care and options for those in recovery from substance use disorder, with access to the program coming from referrals within communities. In Saskatoon, other programs and services include Brief and Social Detox, outreach services, opioid assisted recovery services, outpatient counselling, groups and day program services.
Last year, Calder Centre provided service to 377 adults, with 32 permanent beds in place. The additional six treatment spaces were permanently opened on May 27, bringing capacity up to 38 permanent treatment beds for adults.
