Former Torstar publisher Jagoda Pike to lead new Homewood Health™

Organization poised to change the mental health services industry in Canada

TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2014 /CNW/ - Former Torstar publisher Jagoda Pike has assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of the new Homewood Health™.

Homewood Health is a newly created organization combining the services of the Homewood Health Centre, Homewood Human Solutions™ and Homewood Return to Work Services. Backed by more than 130 years of experience, Homewood Health offers an unparalleled range of services across Canada to meet the mental health and addiction needs of individuals and organizations—ranging from wellness to treatment to recovery.

"It's about providing innovative solutions and leadership to address the wide range of mental health and addiction challenges people are facing today," Pike says. "Whether that means keeping individuals healthy and productive or getting them back to their work and lives as quickly as possible."

In addition, two new in-patient programs have been created to address the increasing demand for assessment and treatment services for complex mental health and addiction conditions.

"In-patient assessment and treatment is an important component of a comprehensive mental health approach," says Pike. "In addition, our integration with the Homewood Health Centre, a nationally recognized treatment facility for mental health and addiction—where the new programs are housed—allows us to take on even the most complicated cases. This makes us unique in the Canadian market."

The two new in-patient programs are the Addiction-PTSD Recovery Program that offers specialized treatment for patients suffering from both an addiction and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and also the Assessment and Stabilization Unit that provides comprehensive psychiatric assessments for patients with unclear diagnoses or complex co-occurring conditions.

Leadership in improving the mental health of Canadians has never been more important. We carry a total economic burden of mental illness in the country of $51 billion annually, with $20 billion resulting from loss of workplace productivity. And according to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, "only one in three people who experience a mental health problem or illness…have sought and received services and treatment." Pike is looking forward to steering Homewood Health as it takes a lead role in improving access to services across the country.

Pike is an accomplished senior business leader whose career has spanned the private and public sectors as well as community and volunteer activities. She was named President and CEO of the Homewood Health Centre in 2012 and was appointed President and CEO of Homewood Health Inc. in 2013. Prior to Homewood, Pike served in a number of key leadership positions including Publisher of the Toronto Star and President of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games Bid. She is the recipient of many awards, including a Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award and is the Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors of McMaster University.

"Ultimately our goal is to achieve outstanding outcomes through exceptional services and research-led innovation. We're going to make a profound difference in the lives of thousands of Canadians who suffer from mental health and addiction," says Pike.

About Homewood Health
Homewood Health is the Canadian leader in mental health and addiction services. With over 130 years of experience, we achieve outstanding outcomes every day through our national network of nearly 4,000 employees and clinical experts, and through the Homewood Health Centre—one of Canada's largest and leading facilities for medical treatment of mental health and addiction disorders. Our complete suite of services includes organizational wellness, Employee and Family Assistance Programs, assessments, outpatient and inpatient treatment, recovery management, return to work and family support services, customized to meet the specialized needs of individuals and organizations. Homewood Health is redefining mental health and addiction services to help Canadians live healthier, more productive and more fulfilling lives.

SOURCE: Homewood Health