Mental Health Division

Action needed now to address critical issues facing mental health services in Ontario: OPSEU president
 

Mental Health Week was marked by community forums across Ontario May 7-12 and everywhere the message was the same: the provincial government is failing the most vulnerable among us.

“We need long term solutions that are humane, not short term quick fixes that are politically expedient,” said Ontario Public Service Employees Union President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

“Without community investments – like affordable housing and treatment programs -- we can’t begin to say we are on the road to serving the needs of the mentally ill.”

Thomas, a registered practical nurse with more than 30 years experience in mental health services, marked Mental Health Week by participating in community forums in London, Kingston and Thunder Bay. OPSEU, which sponsored the forums along with community partners, represents more than 5,600 mental health professionals across Ontario.

Audiences in all three centres were told of similar shortcomings in the delivery of mental health services. Lack of community services, affordable housing, vanishing hospital resources and impatient programs, and the failure of the Mental Health Act to protect the chronically ill, were cited over and over as major obstacles to the humane treatment of the most vulnerable.

Mental health professionals and the police spoke about their frustration with a revolving door system that places people with mental illness at risk. Over the last 15 years the government has closed nine out 10 psychiatric hospitals across Ontario.

“The transition to community mental health has been a complete failure for the mentally ill who now roam our streets, end up in jail or in homeless shelters, Thomas said.

“Let’s call it for what it is: moving into the community means being put at risk. This is unconscionable.”

In London, the Ministry of Health has given a ‘thumbs up’ to the lay off of 29 RPNs at St. Joseph Regional Mental Health Care.

The nurses were laid off earlier this year despite an audit which revealed that the hospital could not account for $14 million in its budget. OPSEU is demanding an investigation into the mismanagement of scarce health care dollars.

Hospital programs are slated to close in 2011 in Thunder Bay with no clear plan on how community-based programs – already under funded and short staffed – will bridge the transition.

Meanwhile, in Kingston, local police at the community forum described desperate situations where the mentally ill were allowed to wander local streets because of chronic bed shortages at local hospitals. As a result, jails are being used to house those who need professional psychiatric care. 

At each community where he spoke, Thomas reminded his audiences that Oct. 10 is Election Day in Ontario – and that it’s also World Mental Health Day.

“We must not allow October 10 to pass in silence without making a strong statement on behalf of the vulnerable, their families and our dedicated frontline mental health workers,” he said. “Let’s make this an issue that no politician hoping to be elected dares to run from.”

London Forum
President Warren (Smokey) Thomas

London Forum
President Warren (Smokey) Thomas and Gino Franche Region 1 EBM with recently laid-off nurses from L. 152
(St. Joseph’s Regional Mental Health Care)

London Forum
(panelists left to right): Dr. H. Merskey, Police Deputy Chief, Ian Peer, President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, Tom White, patient, Marylou Greenwood, caregiver.

Thunder Bay Forum
(left to right) Sandra Snider Region 7 EBM, Doris Meredith L. 720, Diane Muller, L.720, President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, and Brenda Clapp, Region 7 EBM.

Kingston Forum
Bob Eaton, Regional Vice-President Region 4