LONDON, ON , Sept. 25, 2024 /CNW/ – As the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Thames Valley Chapter held its annual “Year on the Job” regional meeting today, members of the association’s OPSEU/SEFPO Local 133 rallied outdoors with local residents to call for an end to cuts, protection of life-saving services and securing the funding needed to provide affordable housing.
OPSEU/SEFPO logo (CNW Group/Ontario Public Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO))
CMHA Thames Valley has made more than 80 cuts to its services in the last year amid rising waiting lists and disruptions to its admissions process. Some programs have also been eliminated. These service changes are having a significant impact on access to life-saving mental health and addiction treatment. Frontline workers have warned that these cuts are leaving communities vulnerable and putting overworked staff at greater risk.
“We save lives every day, but we are incredibly concerned about those in need and the worsening homelessness crisis,” said Tisha Forster, chapter president of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 133. “We are facing frontline cuts at a time when we need more resources, investment and expanded services to meet the needs of our communities. This situation cannot continue. Lives are at risk.”
Workers are also raising the alarm about chronic underfunding from the province and are calling on Premier Doug Ford, Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Associate Minister for Mental Health and Addictions Michael Tibolloh to step in to address the ongoing mental health and addictions crisis in Elgin, Oxford, London-Middlesex and Huron counties and across Ontario.
“Mental health, addictions and social services have been chronically underfunded for years,” Forster said. “Too many people need support and assistance but aren’t getting the help they need. We’ve faced nearly 100 cuts and losses as we strive to meet the growing needs of our communities, at a time when we need more than 100 employees to expand 24/7 crisis support, counselling, housing support, peer support and life-saving care across four counties. Ontario can and must do better for our most vulnerable people.”
“The province must prioritize mental health and reverse the massive budget cuts that have created a crisis in mental health and addictions services across Ontario,” said Ed Erbelin, chair of OPSEU/SEFPO’s Mental Health and Addictions Section. “Our members are passionate about their work saving lives, yet the same budget cuts and homelessness crisis are occurring across the province because of a system that has been underfunded for years. Premier Ford, it’s time to stop the budget cuts and address the funding shortfall to protect CMHA Thames Valley’s life-saving mental health and addictions services.”
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“Our communities deserve quality services and our workers deserve better and safer working conditions,” added Erbelin. “The Ford Government must address the crises in mental health, addictions and affordable housing services and increase funding for Ontario’s mental health agencies now!”
Source: Ontario Public Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO)
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