LONDON,
ON, July 11, 2024 /CNW/ - More than 700
mental health and addictions workers are sounding the alarm about
the funding crisis at CMHA Thames Valley and the further
restructuring and staffing reductions that will impact almost 15%
of the workforce. The workers, who are rallying this afternoon at
the CMHA head office in London,
fear the impact these cuts will have on frontline services across
the four counties of Oxford, Elgin, London-Middlesex and part of Huron.
Because of a serious provincial funding shortfall, this is the
second round of staff reductions faced by the members of
OPSEU/SEFPO Local 133 who work at the Canadian Mental Health
Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
(CMHA TVAMHS) since the spring. Services are now under pressure as
the organization faces a $2.6 million
budget deficit.
The union warns that as staffing numbers decrease, wait times
for services will worsen, impacting access to care for those in
need of mental health and addictions support.
"The funding to divest services to community agencies and meet
the needs within our cities and rural areas has not met the demand
for care for over 20 years now," said Tischa Forster, President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local
133. "Mental health and addiction support needs intensified during
the pandemic, and we are sure that everyone felt it.
The number of individuals in need of immediate care and
support remains elevated, while funding has not increased to
meet the servicing needs. Our system is now in a State of
Emergency, and you can visibly see the issues in every small town
and large service city across Ontario."
It is critical for individuals navigating mental health and
addiction challenges to have consistency with their primary care,
noted Forster. Operational deficits and service changes impact this
consistency for those in need.
OPSEU/SEFPO is calling on the Ford government for immediate
funding for CMHA TVAMHS, which provides crisis, counseling,
housing, outreach, and addiction services to some of the most
vulnerable individuals in our communities who have nowhere else to
go.
"This announcement is yet another provincial failure to put
people first – to be frank, it's putting lives at risk," said Ed
Arvelin, Chair of OPSEU/SEFPO's Mental Health and Addictions
Division. "We are not a poor province - shame on the government for
allowing this crisis to escalate to a state of services emergency
affecting the most vulnerable of our population. Stress, mental
health, and addictions may have affected you, your friends, and
your loved ones and we need to be able to count on these supports
to save lives! Our communities deserve better from the taxes that
we all contribute to our vital healthcare system."
Reducing staff amidst intensifying demand for frontline care
will only worsen the burnout and health and safety issues that
exist for remaining staff - a major health concern in the
profession. The union says that this will reduce access to care and
recovery in times when many in our communities are experiencing
significant crises in their lives.
"We are looking at a government that has grossly underfunded our
hospitals, children's aid societies and children's mental health
organizations, and frontline mental health and addictions agencies
all across Ontario," said JP
Hornick, President of OPSEU/SEFPO. "This is not the Ontario we want for our neighbours, our
families, our kids.
"No more putting people's lives at risks. We need immediate
investment into mental health and addictions supports and social
services," Hornick added. "Ford has an opportunity to support
hundreds of vulnerable community members across southern
Ontario, and their families. The
alternative is unimaginable."
The systemic underfunding of mental health and addiction
services is not a one-off issue, but the entire sector of social
services has been deeply under resourced. The members of
OPSEU/SEFPO Local 133 are calling on the Ford government to fix the
funding shortage now with an email campaign targeting Premier Ford;
Sylvia Jones, the Minister of
Health; and Michael Tibollo,
Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
Additional facts:
- CMHA Thames Valley's planned "restructuring" will impact nearly
15% of the total workforce directly and increase workload
responsibilities for those who remain.
- Workers are still feeling the impact of the first round of
position eliminations and previous program closures as they brace
for the impact of more cuts.
- CMHA Thames Valley – Ontario's
largest CMHA - has cited that 30 more full time positions will need
to be eliminated if there is not financial support and relief
provided by the Ontario
government.
SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO)