News Releases    

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 17, 2003

Public forum in Kingston on mental health services

Kingston - The union representing employees at Providence Continuing Care Centre – Mental Health Services, formerly Kingston Psychiatric Hospital, will host a community forum on the future of mental health services in the Kingston area.

Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7 p.m.)
Place: Kingston City Hall, Memorial Hall

“Under the government’s restructuring of mental health services, the hospital is discharging patients faster and sooner into the community,” said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, First Vice-President/Treasurer of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). Thomas has been a registered practical nurse at the psychiatric hospital for more than 25 years.

“We’re concerned the services aren’t available in the community to help people,” said Thomas.

Admission to the forum is free. The public is welcome.

Speakers include:

· Dr Michael Chan, Psychiatrist.
· John Williams, Family member.
· Florence Gallant, Family member.
· Sandy Singers, Co-ordinator, Partners in Mission Food Bank.
· Warren (Smokey) Thomas, Vice-president, OPSEU

The moderator is Brian Yelland, the chaplain of Queen’s University.

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