Your Impact: Canadian-made Mental Health Beds the Next Generation of Patient Care
Published Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Members of the Adult Mental Health Team with one of three new specialized beds designed to enhance patient safety, made possible thanks to donor support.
Adult Mental Health Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre offers a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for people experiencing mental health challenges. The 32-bed unit supports individuals facing mental health crises or emotional distress in regaining stability and connecting with community resources for ongoing support and recovery.
Of course, the emphasis always has to be on “safe” – for the individuals, for other patients in the unit, and for staff. But safety isn't the only concern when it comes to providing a higher level of patient care at our Hospital…
Thanks to you, the Adult Mental Health Unit has three new patient beds specially designed for those in acute distress. Your donations to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, your participation in Foundation events, and your purchase of Thunder Bay 50/50 tickets all helped bring three of these specialized beds to the unit.
“Over the years, specialized beds have been developed specifically for behavioural health settings,” said Joelle Macey, Manager of the Adult Mental Health & Brief Intervention Treatment Team (BITT). “These beds enhance the care environment while supporting the safety, comfort, and dignity of some of the most vulnerable patients."
Specialized mental health beds are relatively new. Those that did exist before tended to be basic with fewer moving parts. But the three new beds, brand new to the market, represent the next generation of mental health hospital beds and reflect current best practices.
Macey said that to the average person, the new beds don't look much different from regular hospital beds. Moulded plastic replaces bare rails, but not in an obvious way. Plus, they are adjustable unlike platform beds used today. For example, patients can elevate their head and feet for improved comfort. “We can disable those controls when clinically appropriate for safety,” she said.
The new beds include other advanced features such as a low profile – it can be lowered to 10 inches off the ground – and notifications that let staff know when a patient gets out of bed improves patient safety further. This would be important in cases when a patient may be a fall risk, for example, based on other medical conditions.
“Their primary reason for being here will be a mental health concern, but they may have complex medical needs we need to treat as well,” Macey said.
The beds are designed and made in Canada by Quebec-based Umano Medical. Macey said that's not the reason they were chosen, but it's a nice bonus.
“Last year we worked with our Clinical Nurse Specialist, Danielle Reszitnyk, who researched all the available choices,” Macey said. Umano launched the next-generation Ook Snow bed just over a year ago in May 2025. “These are a newer line. It's so advanced – it was definitely a standout.”
Macey said that Adult Mental Health Services would like to add more of these beds in the years to come.
“When I think back to years ago and all the difficulties we had with the old beds, it's night and day,” Macey said. “These beds are a step above, supporting the recovery of patients in our unit who are experiencing mental health issues and helping us meet their needs.”
You helped make this happen! Your support of the Health Sciences Foundation helps purchase patient care items like these specialized mental health beds.
Article by Graham Strong