Get going on dusty mental health report, moms say

Two mothers who took their frustrations with mental health care to Newfoundland and Labrador's legislature Tuesday say they were surprised to learn government has not done anything with a five-year-old report.

The report, a copy of which was obtained this month by CBC News, made the case for a residential treatment program for children and youth with significant mental health or emotional problems.

Leanne Vatcher and Pamela Head, who have been lobbying for more services for their daughters, told CBC News several weeks ago about the trauma their families have encountered.

Their concerns include a lack of specialized care at the Janeway children's hospital in St. John's, where their daughters who have both attempted suicide have been treated in the hospital's psychiatric wing.

At the time, Vatcher and Head had asked not to be identified.

In the glare of public scrutiny on Tuesday, though, Vatcher and Head pleaded openly for more services and called for the government to get moving on the recommendations of a top-level panel of experts, who said it would be cheaper and better to provide locally based residential care.

"I'm disgusted that this report has been around since 2003 and [Health Minister Ross Wiseman is] only now going to review it," Head told CBC News.

"Why couldn't he have reviewed it the last five years? My daughter is at the Janeway, I've been told there's no services available, and she's going to have to go away."

Opposition leader Yvonne Jones raised the issue in the house of assembly, questioning Wiseman over the government's plan.

Wiseman said he has instructed officials to take a second look.

"I want to make sure that if we need to build on the services that we now provide, that we do that," Wiseman said.

According to the Newfoundland and Labrador government, 38 children are currently in residential treatment facilities outside the province.