The Mora Hedding Psychiatric Hospital

The hospital was founded in 1955 by Doctors Mora and Arthur Hedding. Firm believers in French psychiatrist Pierre Deniker's work in drug therapy, they opened the hospital to treat patients in a humane way with the use of the new therapy of drugs.

History
Mora and Arthur Hedding lived and worked in Bristow at the local hospital. In 1954, the introduction of the drug clorpromazine by Pierre Deniker sparked a new age of psychiatric treatment. Unable to get the support they needed from the hospital, the Heddings terminated their employment and opened up their own psychiatric hospital in the city in 1955

For the first decade, the couple struggled to keep the hospital running, often working with limited supplies and an overabundance of patients from the neighbouring towns. However, they were determined to help their patients and continued to offer quality care even in the face of deinstitutionalization.

In the 70s, their condition improved along with funding. A new addition to the hospital was added to facilitate treatment and a full time staff of 20 was now being employed.

In 1981, Doctor Arthur Hedding was admitted as a patient himself and Mora took a more indirect approach to her care. No longer interacting with her patients, Mora devoted her time to her husband and handed over the hospital to the state.

Now under state jurisdiction, the hospital went through radical administrative changes. While the Heddings were in control, everything had a personal touch. With the state involved, the hospital took on a more rigid structure that enabled them to treat patients more efficiently.

Dr Author Hedding died 5 years after admittance, outlived by his wife Mora by 10 years.

Currently
Currently, the Mora Hedding Psychiatric Hospital is in it's 47th year of operation and houses many patients from all over South-Central Ontario. There is also an outpatient centre designed to assimilate patients into society and to help out-patients cope.

Many treatments are offered, uncluding drug therapy, group sessions, music and art therapy, along with one on one sessions.

The hospital is equipt with entertainment and recreational facilities, including a gym.