Maureen Pearlman is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse who has worked at Mackenzie Health for 20 years. She currently works in the Mental Health Outpatient Department at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, and has numerous roles, including working in the Stepping Stones Day Program, coordinating Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and is part of the Crisis Team at both Mackenzie Health Emergency Departments.
As part of an interdisciplinary team, Maureen offers skills and expertise to provide care that centres around a patient's unique needs, ensuring everyone receives the best possible care. She works together with occupational therapists, social workers, recreation therapists and therapy assistants. Whether someone’s journey begins in the emergency departments or within the community, the team works to provide a smooth and supportive transition through outpatient services.
Mackenzie Health’s two-hospital network offers a wide range of programs and services for patients experiencing mental health challenges. Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital is the home of mental health outpatient care, including individual therapy and child, youth and family service programs. Inpatient services and the Stepping Stones Mental Health Day Hospital are available at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital.
Maureen provides members of our community in need of mental health care with enhanced access to expert and compassionate care through the Stepping Stones program. Over six weeks, this daily group-based program offers educational treatments to individuals being impacted by mental illness. The program is offered to adults leaving the mental health inpatient unit or to those in the community. In addition to group programming, participants receive weekly individual sessions and are monitored by the program’s consulting psychiatrist.
Maureen recalls helping a young patient in the program who battled mental health challenges and had become socially isolated. Together, they focused on exploring coping strategies and understanding their symptoms by developing goals, supporting progress and helping to determine next steps towards recovery. Long after the patient completed the program, Maureen says she was happy to learn the patient was doing well and getting back to the things she loved.
Community donors enable critical programming at Mackenzie Health, supporting the advancement of services available in the Mental Health Program. This support empowers the team to expand access to powerful resources and enhance care. Inpatients benefit from innovative facilities like the state-of-the-art Sensory Comfort Room, a spacious therapy gym, and serene outdoor courtyards.
These resources are a light in the dark for those experiencing complex mental health challenges, providing a safe place for patients to heal and recover. Maureen and her colleagues are grateful for the community’s support in creating a nurturing and supportive environment for patients along their mental health journey.