A family legacy in mental health care

A family legacy in mental health care

The Pressey family is certainly St. Joseph’s proud. Four family members  – three of them currently on staff – have made the organization the focus of their work and passion in mental health care.

“I started working for Parkwood Hospital when it was governed by the Women’s Christian Association and my sister Marsha worked at St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital. We were both amalgamated under the St. Joseph’s umbrella,” explains Paul Pressey, now a registered nurse at Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care. “We influenced our family to take on their roles at St. Joseph’s.”

Other family members who joined the St. Joseph’s fold include Paul’s wife, Barbara Pressey, and niece Ashley – Marsha’s daughter.

Fresh out of high school, Paul was encouraged by Marsha to enrol in the former Regional School for Nursing Assistants in London and they attended together. The school has since closed – the last class graduating in 1990.

“I was in limbo after high school and hadn’t thought of becoming a nurse so I said ‘why not’ and here I am after 30 plus years with the same employer in nursing.  I furthered my nursing career in 2002 becoming a registered nurse.”

Paul began spent his first 20 years in nursing looking after the veterans at the now Parkwood Institute Main Building, where he says he has many fond memories. But once again, Marsha led him in a new direction. As a registered practical nurse, Marsha’s career took her from the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital to Regional Mental Health Care London, and then to Southwest Centre before retiring.

“I was encouraged by my sister to come to work at Southwest Centre and in a different type of nursing - forensic mental health care,” says Paul. “So here I am.”

Ashley, meanwhile, is also a registered nurse at Southwest Centre, and Barbara is with housekeeping within St. Joseph’s Act Team and Steele Street Treatment and Rehabilitation Residential Program.

“I like working at St. Josephs for the family atmosphere and the many friendships made over the years,” says Paul. “I have enjoyed working with both the veterans population and in forensics mental health for the client-centred care.”