Every day, Environmental Services (EVS) staff play a vital role in supporting patient care and dignity. Their work helps protect patients, support recovery, and create a clean, safe, and welcoming environment across the hospital.
For Theresia Mbinga, that work is deeply personal.
Now in her third year at CAMH, Theresia is an Environmental Services Attendant who brings more than routine and responsibility to her role - she brings heart. Having started as a casual team member and moved into a part-time position, she has become a familiar and comforting presence on the Emergency unit and the seventh floor, and supports other areas like the Bell Gateway Building and lobbies and restrooms across CAMH’s Queen Street site.
“I meet so many beautiful faces,” she says. “I greet people with a smile - and they greet me back. Sometimes, that small moment of kindness can give someone hope.”
To Theresia, those moments matter. Working closely in spaces like the women’s unit, she encounters patients of all ages and backgrounds whose experiences resonate deeply with her.
“Seeing them reaches my soul,” she explains. “Mental health is something we all need to take care of.”
She makes a point to acknowledge each person she meets, offering simple gestures of kindness and humanity. When patients recognize her - calling out, “Theresia, you’re here again!” - it’s a reminder that her presence has meaning.
“It makes me happy,” she says. “They remember me.”
Theresia also values the strong connections she’s built with her colleagues. She communicates regularly with nurses and the broader care team, checking in at the start of each shift to understand where she’s needed most.
“We’re here to help each other,” she says. “I always ask what more I can do.”
Before coming to CAMH, Theresia trained as a teacher, and her passion for helping others continues to guide her. Working in a mental health setting has opened new doors for learning and growth.
“I learn something from every interaction,” she says. “This place is very organized, and I’m getting to understand more about mental health and how treatment works.”
Though the work can be challenging - especially in unpredictable spaces like public washrooms or in some clinical spaces - Theresia approaches it with compassion.
“Patients here - this is their home,” she says. “Visitors are like my brothers and sisters.”
She also finds reassurance in the support systems around her, from security to her supervisors, who she says go above and beyond.
“They listen. They give honest advice. They want to see you succeed.”
That sense of support extends beyond the workplace. Theresia says her family can tell how much she loves her job.
“I can have a lot to do when I arrive at work, but I’m never stressed. My mental health is good because I feel at home here.”
Outside of work, she finds joy in simple pleasures: spending time with her sister, doing a little shopping, cooking dishes from her Tanzanian culture (especially fish), and connecting with friends and family.
At CAMH, Theresia is more than an EVS team member - she’s a source of kindness, connection, and quiet strength. And for many patients and colleagues, her presence makes all the difference.
Environmental Services (EVS) staff work every day to support patient care and dignity. Their work helps protect patients, support recovery, and maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for everyone in our hospital. Share your appreciation with an EVS colleague whenever you see them!
