Local philanthropists Patricia and David Morton have donated $500,000 to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation to support mental health and addictions care at the regional hospital.
In recognition of the couple’s donation, new signage for the hospital’s emergency department waiting room was unveiled during at a private family event on Wednesday (May 29).
“We’re incredibly grateful to Patricia and David for stepping forward once again for our hospital and health care in our region,” says PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway in a media release, adding that the donation will help transform the quality of the patient experience in the hospital’s mental health and addictions crisis response unit.
“Their gift will serve as a beacon of hope for countless individuals and families affected by mental illness and allow PRHC to transform physical spaces and lives,” Heighway added. “Their generosity mirrors their compassion, underscoring our shared belief that by supporting mental health and addictions crisis treatment, we can break down stigma, elevate the standard of care, and create inclusive environments where individuals feel valued, cared for, and understood.”
The Mortons were moved to direct their donation to the crisis response unit after the family suffered a devastating loss, when a 26-year-old family member took his own life last year following a years-long struggle with depression and anxiety.
“Our family has experienced the terrible toll that mental illness can take,” Patricia says. “We know that we’re not alone and that there are many people and families in our communities fighting the same battles. We decided to give to better, safer, and more accessible mental health crisis spaces at our hospital so we can improve access, raise awareness, and make hope and recovery possible for more patients from Peterborough and our surrounding region.”
The Mortons have long supported PRHC, both as donors and volunteers, and wanted to turn their personal tragedy into hope for people with mental illness and their families.
“We believe that by making sure people in crisis have a safe, secure, and supportive environment to go to for assistance, we can help prevent others from experiencing the devastation of losing a beloved family member or dear friend to mental illness,” David says. “Our hope is that this contribution will serve as a catalyst for positive change and inspire others to join us in giving to the future of mental health care in our community.”
According to Jennifer Cox, the hospital’s director of mental health and addictions, PRHC and other hospitals across Canada have seen “staggering” increases in the number of mental health patients in recent years.
“Patient visits to the unit have more than doubled over the past ten years, with more than 3,600 visits last year alone,” she says, noting the emergency department crisis response unit is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week because a mental health crisis can happen at any time.
“The Mortons’ gift will help us increase the size of the unit by 50 per cent,” Cox explains, adding that the donation will allow the hospital to create a dedicated waiting area for children, adolescents, and their families and to build a secure 72-hour short-stay area for high-risk patients in need of reduced stimulation and enhanced nursing care.
“With the help of the Mortons and donors like them, we’re investing in a healing environment for mental health and addictions patients, providing them with a safe and appropriate space to rest while seeking emergency intervention,” adds PRHC president and CEO Dr. Lynn Mikula.
Patricia and David Morton have a long history of philanthropy in the Kawarthas. Over the past four years, they have donated $200,000 in support of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s services for women and children experiencing gender-based violence in Haliburton County, and they have also made generous donations to other organizations including Trent University, the Peterborough Humane Society, the United Way of Peterborough & District, and the Morton Community Healthcare Centre in Lakefield.
