Money initially raised to support frontline healthcare workers at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic is now being directed to support the mental health unit at Chatham-Kent’s hospital.
In late March 2020, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation created the COVID-19 Healthcare Relief Fund to support healthcare workers at the hospital by purchasing much-needed equipment and personal protective equipment. Through the generosity of CK residents, businesses, and local groups, the fund ultimately raised a total of $357,570.
Fannie Vavoulis, director of communications at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), said the hospital itself purchased the equipment with the knowledge that the relief fund was in place to cover the costs of these items, as needed. However, like most hospitals across the province, CKHA was instead provided funding from upper levels of government to cover those costs.
“As a result, donor funds were available to support another priority area that emerged through COVID — mental health,” Vavoulis said in an email to CKXS News. “The hospital was able to think beyond the initial proposed list of equipment as to how best to use the generous contributions to the foundation.”
Due to high pressures and stress caused by the pandemic, the hospital has redirected $81,602.55 of the donated money to create a Mental Well-being and Resilience Program for physicians and frontline staff.
The remaining $275,967.45 raised through the relief fund has been allocated to support the construction of two new quiet rooms for CKHA’s Mental Health and Addictions program, to provide appropriate and comfortable space for patients while also addressing staff safety.
According to budget information previously released by the hospital, construction of the quiet rooms is expected to cost around $1.25 million, with completion slated for this summer.
“One of the most significant impacts of the pandemic has been on mental health needs,” said Vavoulis. “We are so fortunate that we can now invest in the longer-term mental health impacts of COVID to benefit our staff and community.”
