The new mental health and addictions facility in St. John’s opens to the public today.

The project has been many years in the making, beginning under the Dwight Ball administration.

Today marks the final step in that process, with patients being moved from the Waterford Hospital to the new facility located next to the Health Sciences.

NL Health Services CEO Pat Parfrey calls today a “generational milestone in transforming mental health and addictions services in (the) province.”

Some community and mental health services will continue to be offered at the Waterford Hospital temporarily.