New mental health treatment centre opens in Iqaluit

The new Akausisarvik Mental Health Treatment Centre in Iqaluit officially opened May 17, with the cutting of a sealskin ribbon. From the left, Nunavut’s justice Dan Shewchuk, Iqaluit city councillor Simon Nattaq, Terry Young, principal of Inuksuk high school, Jackie Sheffield, psychiatric nurse manager, Premier Eva Aariak, RCMP Chief Superintendent Lindsey Brine, Nunavut’s health minister Keith Peterson, Nunavut Commissioner Edna Elias, Jack Anawak of the Iqaluit District Education Authority, Iqaluit West MLA Monica Ell, and Andrew Tagak Sr., chair Iqaluit DEA. (PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GN)

The second floor culture meeting room of the new Akausisarvik Mental Health Treatment Centre in Iqaluit, which officially opened May 17, looks out over the city. From the left, Nunavut’s justice minister Dan Shewchuk, Nunavut’s health minister Keith Peterson, Nurse Manager Jackie Sheffield

Government of Nunavut politicians, along with police, health and education officials, cut a sealskin ribbon May 17 to officially open the Akausisarvik Mental Health Treatment Centre in Iqaluit.

Until 2010 the sky-blue coloured building, located near Inuksuk high school, housed the Tammaativvik patient boarding home. Before that, it was used as a student residence for high school students from smaller Baffin communities who were studying in Iqaluit.

The $2.4 million renovation of the building means the centre can provide 24-hour, seven-day-a-week care facility that will serve 15 in-patient (an increase of five over the centre’s previous capacity) and up to 40 outpatient mental health clients.

When fully staffed, Akausisarvik will employ a psychiatric nurse manager, two psychiatric nurses, three wellness counselors, 10 life skills workers, a clerk-interpreter, a kitchen manager and a caseworker

Akausisarvik, which first opened in 2002, is designed to offer care for Nunavummiut who suffer from serious or moderate mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, manic depression or personality disorders.

“The relocation of Akausisarvik is one step in the health department’s plan to address and expand mental health programs and services,” health minister Keith Peterson said in a GN news release.

The GN has committed an additional $860,000 to expand the mental health program at Akausisarvik this year, he said.