The MPP in Bruce and Grey says the Liberal government's plan to increase wait lists for children's mental health services is disgraceful.
MPP Bill Walker says the leaked memo from the South West Community Care Access Centre states the CCAC is looking at wait-listing additional services to children and youth through School Health Support Services.
That covers a range of health and mental health services to students across Ontario's 72 School board.
“The government was just warned about Ontario’s mounting mental health crisis,” he says. “The rational decision would be for this government to turn the corner and make access to mental health care a top priority. Disgracefully, the consideration before them is to turn kids in-need away from assessments and treatments through longer wait-lists, which will ultimately put their lives at risk and lead to a full-blown crisis in Ontario. This is unconscionable.
"Children in crisis should not be wait-listed. The longer they wait, the more acute and dangerous the situation becomes for all,” he says.
Last week's report from the provincial auditor found youth mental health agencies were swamped with 50% more cases of hospitalization, while youth were waiting up to 18 months for treatment.
“Nothing is more shameful than the Liberal government’s treatment of children who through no fault of their own face mental health challenges,” he says. “We have a responsibility to ensure a brighter future for these children.”
