June 16th, 2021

Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia needs additional resources to meet needs of the community

HAMILTON – Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath and NDP Critic for Mental Health and Addictions, Monique Taylor, released the following statement regarding the need for more resources for the Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia (HPS):

“It is disheartening that the dedicated nurses at the Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia (HPS) are struggling to meet the skyrocketing demand for intensive mental health services. Nurses are calling for more help and more staff resources to keep up with the growing needs of the community. Ultimately, it’s the Hamiltonians who rely on these services who will suffer from understaffing and the rationing of mental health care. The workers and clients of HPS deserve better.

Experts and advocates have been sounding the alarm for months about the impending wave of demand for mental health services as the pandemic subsides and the province reopens. Instead of bolstering community services with additional resources over the past year, Doug Ford and his government have ignored the problem. Now Ford is forcing community mental health organizations and their staff to struggle and stretch themselves thin to meet the needs of Ontarians.”