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EDMONTON — Alberta is expanding community-based mental health and addiction services with the addition of 60 recovery beds aimed at easing pressure on hospitals and emergency departments.
Recovery Alberta says the beds will support patients who no longer require acute care but still need structured treatment and rehabilitation services.
Thirty beds are to be funded this year, with another 30 planned for next year. Locations and timelines have not yet been finalized and will be determined in the coming months through partnerships with community providers.
Officials say limited access to timely mental health and addiction care can lead to worsening conditions and increased reliance on emergency services.
“Mental health and addiction care is a vital part of Alberta’s health system,” Mental Health and Addiction Minister Rick Wilson said in a statement. “By expanding community-based recovery beds, we are helping more people receive the right care at the right time while reducing pressure on hospitals and emergency departments.”
Community-based recovery beds provide a structured setting where patients can continue treatment, including clinical care, counselling and other supports as they transition out of hospital.
Recovery Alberta CEO Kerry Bales said the additional beds will help strengthen the continuum of care across the province.
“Community recovery beds play an important role in the continuum of care, supporting individuals as they transition from hospital settings while continuing their recovery in a safe and supportive environment,” Bales said.
Recovery Alberta, established in 2024, delivers mental health, addiction and correctional health services across the province through hospitals, community facilities and correctional institutions.
Officials say the expansion is intended to improve access to care while helping ensure acute care beds remain available for patients with the most urgent needs.
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