Mental Health Concerns Aired at Meeting

Thunder Bay’s Source (Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada): Front line mental health workers, patients and advocacy groups identified some major problems in the region's mental health care system at a round table discussion. Organized by the Ontario Health Coalition, the session is one of many being held across the region to identify some of the major obstacles to service delivery. Testimonials piled up as workers, patients and family members discussed the crisis facing mental health care patients in Northwestern Ontario. According to one long-time employee, the impending closure of the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital is one of the key issues. Other concerns voiced at the session included a scarcity of affordable housing, criminalization issues and lack of treatment options. Information from the regional sessions is to be compiled and released in a public report which will be forwarded to the government.