Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and Sinai Health Partnership

Attention community members,

We are pleased to share to that Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA) has entered into a five-year partnership with Sinai Health to provide psychiatry services throughout the James and Hudson Bay region. This collaboration emphasizes a community-led framework and aims to strengthen our current mental health services in a culturally safe and sensitive way. This is essential as we prioritize the distinct needs of the community members we serve throughout the James and Hudson Bay Region. 

Sinai Health is a large teaching and research health-care organization located in Toronto. Its two hospitals, Mount Sinai and Hennick Bridgepoint deliver specialized and compassionate care in hospital, community and home focusing on the comprehensive needs of people. Clinical areas of specialization include rehabilitation and complex continuing care, surgery and oncology, mental health care, urgent and critical care, and women’s and infants’ health.

The partnership will provide psychiatry services to community members both in-person, as well as virtually. Improving our service delivery model is a continuous goal as we aim to provide optimal care close to home, and this collaboration is a positive step in the process. 

“WAHA is pleased to announce our new partnership with the Sinai Health Psychiatry Team, which will improve access to psychiatric services within the region. The WAHA-Sinai Health team is key in supporting our Community Mental Health and Addictions team, WAHA Physicians, Nurse Practitioners and community nurses in primary and emergent care.” – Sandra Kioke, WAHA Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive

On behalf of Sinai Health, Drs. Lesley Wiesenfeld and Mark Lachmann, both psychiatrists, share this sentiment on the partnership, “We are honoured to work with WAHA to support mental health care on James Bay. We look forward to delivering care close to home, and also to learning from the communities on how to deliver mental health care in a way that works for you.” 

Gitchi meegwetch to all who made this collaboration possible. We look forward to the future and hope you will join us in celebrating this momentous occasion! 

Weeneebayko Area Health Authority