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More mental health layoffs in London-St. Thomas

'It’s getting harder and harder to believe the Ontario government is serious about improving mental health services.'

Toronto (17 Jan. 2011) - Mental health services at Regional Mental Health Care in London and St. Thomas have been placed in jeopardy as a result of 20 layoffs.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) received notice from the Regional Mental Health Centre that the positions will be gone as of May 12 this year because of budget restraint.

These positions include nurses, therapists and recreationist, social worker, clerical, dietary and housekeeping staff.

“The province just spent $495,000 on a private consultant to work on phase III of a 10-year mental health plan while on the ground mental health workers continue to lose their jobs,” says OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “It’s getting harder and harder to believe the Ontario government is serious about improving mental health services.”

The lone hairdresser at the centre was among those receiving layoff notices, raising questions about how certain patients will be able to maintain personal grooming.

“It’s likely the families of patients will have to make arrangements at their own expense,” says Kim McDowell, president of OPSEU Local 152. “The kinds of activities that contribute to our patient’s dignity and self-worth are being eroded.”

Skills programming for patients at the centre will also be reduced as both workshop activation therapists are losing their jobs. The layoffs follow the recent layoff of 28 child and youth workers at Whitby’s Ontario Shores in December.

Last November 85 staff left Regional Mental Health Care in London and St. Thomas as part of a transfer of beds to Grand River Hospital in Cambridge.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE