MGH's main entrance on Coxwell Avenue is closed as the next phase of our redevelopment project begins. Patients and visitors can use the new temporary main entrance on Sammon Avenue between Coxwell Avenue and Knight Street. View our campus map.
#IamMGH tells the stories of our people. Meet Dr. Susan MacKenzie, Medical Director of Child and Youth Psychiatry at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH).
“I’ve worked at MGH since 2017 as a psychiatrist, and this summer, I stepped into the role of Medical Director of Child and Youth Psychiatry.
Before joining MGH, I spent eight years at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), where I worked in the Youth Addiction and Concurrent Disorders Service. I also served as the Medical Head for CAMH’s Child, Youth and Family Outpatient Services.
I was drawn to join MGH because I was looking to work in a community hospital setting with more opportunities for quick-moving innovation. MGH gave me the chance to create change while continuing my clinical work.
What has kept me at MGH is the people. There’s a genuine sense of camaraderie and commitment here. This wonderful environment helps protect against burnout, which is common in our area of work.
It’s a challenging time in the field of child and youth mental health: the demand for services is growing, and the system remains fragmented in many ways. Between 2023 and 24 at MGH, we saw a 10% increase in admissions to our inpatient unit and a 35% increase in demand for our outpatient services. Part of the reason is that the COVID-19 pandemic was disruptive to family routines, and especially school. We continue to see the long-term impacts of the pandemic on mental health.
The Child and Youth Mental Health Services team at MGH has been responsive to this increase in demand. In recent years, we’ve launched and expanded several programs to meet patient needs, including our Transitional Youth Program, which supports and empowers young people experiencing barriers to accessing services, and the Building Bridges program, which provides support for school-avoidant youth.
MGH’s focus on integrated care has also allowed us to work with our East Toronto Health Partners Ontario Health Team organizations to develop collaborative programs to better serve the needs of children and youth. These include our Youth Wellness Hubs partnerships in East Toronto and Thorncliffe Park and our Youth Outreach Team partnership with WoodGreen Community Services.
As I begin in my new role as Medical Director, I look forward to opportunities to build on the growth of these services.
One new service we’re planning to launch soon is a short-term classroom day program for MGH patients who are transitioning out of our inpatient unit or are outpatients with high needs. We’ve partnered with a teacher from the Toronto Catholic District School Board, who will support patients academically and liaise with their school to facilitate a smooth transfer back to their usual routines.
In East Toronto, we have such a diverse population: culturally, socioeconomically and in many other ways. Working at MGH gives me a window into the challenges that normal East Toronto families face. I truly enjoy working with my patients and helping to shift the trajectory of their mental health, even if it’s just a little bit. When I can help improve a patient’s well-being through therapeutic intervention, medication or even offering support during a difficult time, it’s meaningful and gratifying.”
