CAMH Spotlight: Nurses lead with compassion on CCC6

By Miguel Amante, Communications Coordinator, CAMH

Just before nursing week, we received a note from Dr. Tania Tajirian, Chief of Hospital Medicine and Chief Health Information Officer at CAMH, praising the nurses in Crisis and Critical Care Unit 6 (CCC6) for their exemplary work. In her email, she wrote: 

“The nurses of CCC6 at CAMH embody the very best of psychiatric nursing – a team whose compassion, courage, and collaboration transform one of the most demanding acute care environments into a place of hope and healing. Day after day, they meet patients in their most vulnerable moments with dignity, patience, and unwavering therapeutic presence, holding space for recovery even when circumstances are at their most complex. What sets this team apart is the way they show up for one another: covering for one another in crisis, debriefing after difficult shifts, mentoring new staff, and never letting a colleague stand alone. Their resilience is not loud; it is steady, generous, and deeply human. CCC6 reminds us that mental health nursing is skilled, specialized, life-changing work, and this team carries that mission with extraordinary heart.” 

I visited CCC6 to experience first-hand what makes this unit stand out, speaking to several of the nurses and getting additional context from Unit Manager Mariah Douglas, who provided a top-down perspective to the work being done there. Mariah began working on the unit in August 2023, after a long career at CAMH that saw her take on increasingly varied roles and responsibilities across many parts of the hospital. 

Unit CCC6 has gone through some changes over the years, including several shifts in focus and location. “The unit was initially a general psych (1-1) and then changed to a mood and anxiety inpatient unit (MAUI 4-5),” explained Mariah, after collecting information from some of the longer-tenured nurses in the Unit.  

The pandemic brought additional challenges. “At the beginning of the pandemic, the 12-bed unit became a COVID unit. When the official move to Queen Street happened, this unit became a 25-bed unit with the name change of Transitional Age Youth (TAY). Despite our name, the unit serviced a general population, including TAY patients, and therefore we officially changed to a general psychiatry unit where we continue to support various diagnoses for people between 18 and 65+.” 

Personal and professional dynamics in critical care

In many general hospitals, good patient care can be boiled down to a mix of clinical competence, compassion, and empathy. Mental health nursing is no different, but it begins with possessing intangible, interpersonal skills that enable clinicians to sympathize deeply with the patients they care for. 

“The CCC6 nursing team is made up of incredibly compassionate and resilient individuals. Working in acute psychiatry requires a level of patience, empathy, and emotional strength that often goes unseen,” says Mariah. “Every single shift, this team walks into an environment that is fast paced, unpredictable, and emotionally demanding, yet they continue to show up for our patients, their families and for one another with kindness and gentleness.  

“What stands out most is their humanity. Behind every assessment, intervention, and difficult moment is a nurse who genuinely cares. They celebrate patient progress, sit with patients in their hardest moments, and offer comfort during times of fear, crisis, and uncertainty. Even on the busiest days, they find ways to support each other with humour, encouragement, and understanding. I feel incredibly proud to work alongside a team that leads with both strength and compassion.” 

But having good interpersonal skills is not enough, and units that deal in complex care rely on clinical excellence as well. 

“From a professional standpoint, CCC6 moves quickly, and our nurses continuously balance patient safety, crisis management, therapeutic communication, teamwork, and clinical judgement seamlessly. They are highly skilled in managing complex behaviours and acuity while maintaining professionalism and dignity in patient care,” adds Mariah, when asked about her unit’s professional character. 

“What impresses me most about this team is their ability to remain calm and collaborative during challenging situations. They advocate fiercely for patients, support interdisciplinary teamwork, and consistently rise to meet the demands of the unit. Their accountability and commitment to safe, compassionate care are what make this team exceptional. 

Teamwork makes the dream work 

Pairing clinical skills with the personalities to engage well with patients is only a part of what makes a unit a well-oiled machine. Putting it all together is key to success, and CCC6 has that in spades.  

Mariah puts it succinctly: “The dynamics on our unit are built on teamwork, trust, and mutual support. On our unit, no one works in isolation – it truly takes a team approach. Our staff understand the importance of stepping in for one another, communicating effectively, and supporting each other through difficult shifts and high-acuity situations. Like any fast-paced environment, there are challenging moments, but what continues to stand out is the team’s ability to come together when it matters most. There is a strong sense of camaraderie on the unit. Staff check in on each other, share knowledge openly, and work collaboratively to ensure both patient and staff safety.” 

During my visit, the appreciation for the team didn’t stop at the nursing station. Veteran Environmental Services Attendant Teresa Machado, who was in the unit at the time, proudly highlighted the success of the work that her clinical colleagues are doing, and spoke glowingly of the unit as a whole from the sidelines. 

Giving respect where it’s due 

During my time there, it was obvious that a few tenured nurses were respected by their peers. In one interaction, I was asked to retake a group photo so that one nurse, who was busy attending to a patient discharge case, could be included.  

I asked Mariah to comment on this, and she explained: “Honestly, the most inspiring nurses on our unit are not defined by one person – it is the collective strength of the team. Inspiration shows up in different ways every day. It is the nurse who remains calm during a crisis, the nurse who takes extra time to connect with a distressed patient, the nurse who supports a colleague after a difficult shift, and the nurse who continues to show compassion despite the emotional demands of this work.” 

As I spent more time on CCC6, I could feel the palpable respect for each other that had been imprinted across the team. 

“The work is not easy,” Mariah pointed out. “But there is a shared understanding that we are all working toward the same goal: providing compassionate, safe, and meaningful care to our patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.” 

While Nursing Week is only celebrated during one week of the year, it was evident on CCC6 that the nursing team cares deeply for each other and for the entire interprofessional team that contributes to the excellent work at CCC6. A group of colleagues who show up for each other when needed, who support and encourage each other, and teach each other the values that live at the heart of this unit.  

“What inspires me most is that even in the busiest and most challenging moments, this team never loses sight of the human side of nursing," Mariah reflected. “That ability to balance clinical excellence with compassion is what makes this team truly remarkable.”