Ottawa: Public forum to discuss future of mental health services as cuts to beds and programs loom
Ottawa - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is hosting a town hall meeting to consult with patients, community agencies and the public on the future of mental health services in the Ottawa area.
Date: Monday, March 3
Time: 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Place: Ottawa City Hall, Council Chambers
“Hospital-based mental health services are under threat in Ottawa,” said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, First Vice-President/Treasurer of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). “Community mental health services are under tremendous pressure, as well. We hope the
town hall will talk about the gaps in service and what all levels of government must do to close the gaps.”
Royal Ottawa Hospital has backed off some of the bed closures it announced in the fall, but still plans to close 20 psychiatric rehab beds. The Ottawa Hospital proposes to cut 30 per cent of its psychological staff, which could reduce or eliminate several of its
treatment programs.
Admission to the town hall is free. The public is welcome. Speakers include: Madelin Bertrand, Ottawa Chapter, Schizophrenia Society of Ontario; Alex Cullen, Ottawa City Councillor; Leslie McWinne and Abe Rosenfelt, the Ottawa Health
Coalition; Psychiatrist James Mullin; Tim Simboli and Lucille Smeltzer-Legault of the Family Service Centre; Maxine Stata, St. Luke's Lunch Club & Drop-In Centre; Peter Timusk, Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa; Karen Cohen, Canadian Psychological Association and Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU.
On June 3, 1998, then Minister of Health Elizabeth Witmer told the Ontario legislature, “Until such time as we have the services and programs that we feel are going to respond to the needs of the individuals in the psychiatric hospitals, there will be no further
closure of those beds.”
In November, OPSEU released a report, Reality: Ontario’s Mental Health Care System isn’t Working. The report details cuts to mental health services across Ontario and is available at http://www.opseu.org/bps/health/mental/index.htm
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For more information:
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, (613) 329-1931 or (416) 443-8888 ext. 303
Marlene Rivier, (613) 222-8381
