Good Evening Minister Osborne, Mr. Paul Dinn, Mr. Jim Dinn, and Premier Furey:
Today I was once again listening to question period and petitions being brought forward,.I would like to address Mr. Dinn's petition regarding long term mental healthcare and the response. In particular, I was dismayed to hear Doorways once again being used as an example of a gateway to long term healthcare. I'm addressing this to all four of you, with the hope each of you will truly hear and understand that long term mental healthcare is more than short term programs and that for many, the ones that do exist are simply not reaching everyone they need to.
-The mental health counselors and psychologists who are a part of the family care teams-- are there waitlists? Are they meant for long term continuous visits for those who need it? If not, it's not long term mental healthcare.
The 5 million for community-based wraparound mental health and addiction services is listed as a highlight in the budget, but that means little to people if there is no explanation as to how that will provide continuity of care. Is this the community treatment centres?
FACT teams were mentioned-- I think these are great, but highlighted in the budget is 4.4 million. That is less than half of the 8.9 million last year. Why has it changed so drastically?
As someone who lives with Bipolar and C-PTSD, the examples are upsetting. Doorways is good short term mental healthcare-- but it's not long term continuity of care for lifelong mental illnesses. I know that sometimes limited repeat sessions are offered, but have been told it's meant for short term.
Short term options aren't healthy for those with chronic illness. There is trauma in repeating your story over and over. And I'm told FACT teams are bursting at the seams (Hopefully I'm wrong) and meant more for people who need close monitoring. I, and many others, don't fit in these boxes.
In order to have any quality of life, I need a family doctor (I'm told over 100 000 people are without one) a psychiatrist I completely lucked into after advocating for myself which many cannot do. (In Corner Brook it was recently said people would lose their psychiatrist if they were deemed stable-- not taking into account that people relapse. Often quickly.) A therapist (Who I have to pay out of pocket for and am currently taxed on) and a pharmacist. (Where many people do not have coverage for medications. I have insurance.)
I'm writing this from a place of complete privilege, and can still tell you it's not enough.
Mental healthcare for many is complex. It requires multiple professionals. And often people without privilege such as mine are left without care, homes, or adequate funding to survive.
Don't get me wrong, I have been a part of consultations that are beautifully laid out. Centres designed for care that would be the envy of other provinces. But for now they are plans-- and not guaranteed. They also need people. Healthcare workers who can staff the bricks and mordor. I fully acknowledge that many parts of Towards Recovery have been put in place. (Still waiting on the evaluation!) but believe with my whole heart that short term, and not long term, was mainly addressed.
I ask that you please:
Find out more about the consultations regarding Community Treatment Centres, and that all of you support implementing the recommended steps. Some of those are urgent.
Provide better, or any funding at all, for non profits who provide free long term mental healthcare (Jacob Puddister Memorial Foundation, who has to close their waitlist for three months at a time, comes to mind.)
Look into why psychiatrists & psychologists who are leaving-- is it just about money? What will retain the good professionals we already have? Are their workplaces healthy?
Fully commit to 9% of the healthcare budget being spent on mental healthcare which was recommended by Towards Recovery. As well as a breakdown showing where it's going. This should be 351 million.
Look beyond the Avalon for providing care in place.
Make ADHD assessments easier to access-- my husband's costs $1800 out of pocket and I know there are many who have found this to be a huge barrier to care.
There are MANY other things. I'm sure you know my list is long because it's a complex subject. Mental healthcare is not free-- beyond the abysmal wait times-- those of us who are either not acute, or in need of short term only, are left in the dust and many slip through the cracks until it becomes acute or a life is taken from us. I know of too many people who don't even try to access public mental healthcare because of wait times they would face.
There is so much more I could say-- but please understand Doorways is not a gateway to long term mental healthcare, we need clarification if there are waitlists for FACT and clear understanding about their funding, if mental health professionals at the clinics are meant for long term, as well as what exactly 5 million for wraparound services means. Effective short term care should be applauded-- but there needs to be clear answers about long term. People need hope.
I know you all are trying-- hopefully hearing from someone with lived experience is helpful.
Thank you if you have read this in its entirety. As always, I will be out front each Monday morning in wind, rain, snow, sleet, or sunshine, with my friends reminding you that long term mental healthcare needs to be more accessible.
Kristi