Renovations complete at addiction and mental health campus in Saint John

After four years, renovations at a Saint John, N.B., addiction treatment facility are complete.

Horizon Health Network’s Ridgewood Addiction and Mental Health campus on Saint John’s west side has completed its final phase of renovations to give clients an improved recovery experience.

The three phases of renovations saw three buildings on site see improvements that officials say will allow clients to have better quality care with its now modern trauma-informed spaces.

The first phase saw a bump in beds at the Concurrent Live-In Treatment Rehab building from 12 to 16.

Phase two featured an overhaul of the Inpatient Withdrawal Management building’s clinical space, which helped allow for assessments, treatment and counseling to happen outside of a client’s room.

The final phase, which was also the most recent to be completed, saw renovations to the central treatment building. That includes a newly-revamped kitchen and arts space which are popular among clients.

“It gives the clients a quiet place to go for them to relax,” says Horizon’s interim VP of community, Ashley Calvert. “It also is an opportunity for them to interact with other clients who are using the space as well. So, a little bit of that community, bringing people together to work towards a common goal to prepare a meal or to work on an art project is very important in their therapy.”

When speaking on the kitchen specifically, Calvert also pointed out how it helps teach clients basics, like healthy eating, budgeting and other skills they will be able to take with them following their recovery journey.

The project was first announced in 2022 and came with $3.8 million in money between the province, Horizon and the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation.

Minister responsible for Addictions and Mental Health, Robert McKee, says offering clients more modern facilities can have a big impact on care.

“To be able to engage in group therapy sessions and nice new facilities, a new teaching kitchen as well, that will be operational here to teach people those life skills that may be lacking when they do go back to their homes or in the communities, that they’ll be able to take those teachings back,” he says. “It’s a more holistic approach to health and giving them the tools they need to succeed.”

Provincial mental health and addiction programs see an average of 100 people annually. Stays range from a minimum of five weeks to upwards of three months.

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