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12 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday April 26, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Setting a new course for mental health Continued from page 10 A move to off-site day program treatment is positive in bringing normality to the process of returning to life and work, according to Reynolds. Then in March 2007, the head of mental health services at OTMH moved to a new post, what could have been a blow felt by the local mental health services, but in his place is Vivian Damian, who is progressive and energetic, according to Reynolds. One of the issues confronting Halton is a need for more beds, as the Oakville hospital is the only one in Oakville, Milton and Georgetown, offering in-patient programs for adults ­ and for children. While there is a 22-bed unit for adults, there is a 10-bed unit for kids. Education is under way to better equip police for handling mental illness and because the Emergency waiting room may not always be the appropriate place for intake assessment of mental health visits, the hospital has, in Reynold's opinion, positively addressed what consumers like Reynolds call "The Green Room." Reynolds said most who have had occasion to be in The Green Room, remember the sterile environment without fondness. It has since been painted and given new flooring, though new furnishing is still at issue with a view to safety issues for mental health "You've got to be a realist and I believe you can effect more change by working from inside. John Reynolds Avard Reynolds patients in the process of de-escalating from a crisis, said Reynolds. A move of the psychiatric ward within the hospital last October has positioned it for a larger bed capacity -- 22 at present with a view to 35 within a few years, said Reynolds. The issue is now not bed capacity, per se, but operating funding as the two are separate under current government funding scenarios, said Reynolds, who gives the hospital credit for its leadership in expanding. "Sometimes people are waiting because the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has not delivered, in my view. The funding may be coming, but we've been waiting 10 years," said Reynolds who aims to ensure the delay doesn't continue much longer. And there are other delays. "The current wait for a child to be seen by a psychiatrist in Oakville as an outpatient is 12 to 15 weeks. If you're in crisis, that doesn't quite cut it," said Reynolds, noting access to child psychiatrists in Ontario, is a province-wide problem. In contrast to the outpatient issues, inpatient care for children seems to be meeting the need, said Reynolds, noting children are never refused care because of a lack of beds, though they may have to go to other centres for quality of care issues. Back at the other end of the spectrum, Reynolds said the LHIN has been making efforts to connect with the public and though it hasn't yet been well responded to, that response level is growing. Though Reynolds said he's not clear on the logic applied in determining the province's LHIN regions, other than perhaps population, he said the local LHIN is approaching its role, to serve its community better in terms of health care, proactively. "It's my impression, this LHIN is fairly forward thinking and outward reaching in its approach to identified needs," said Reynolds. John Reynolds "You have to be respectful of the process and the bureaucracy and things need to take time," said Reynolds, demonstrating his patient, but tenacious attitude. That's what he'll need, too, as he points out that when it comes to funding, mental health services in Halton are on a per capita basis, well below the level of funding established for the rest of the province. "One of our goals is that we want to get the per capita funding up to average," said Reynolds. The committee of a dozen, of whom half are very active, is always recruiting through the hospital. Reynolds, as its chair, also has an advisory seat on the LHIN board. On its to-do list, the CAAC wants the hospital to be accountable -- lauding recent accreditation and quality reviews -- for its services. Yet another is better equipping police for de-escalating situations involving mental health issues. Still another is bringing together the many areas of the community that currently offer mental health services in a fractured continuum -- such fracture leading to the continuation of stigma attached to mental health issues. The bottom line: the plate of the CAAC is laden with jobs like reducing stigma, increasing public awareness, holding the hospital accountable for its services and advocating for services. Reynolds said he and his wife share similar views and his family has support -- noting many families dealing with mental health issues without such support, don't survive. "I'm not easily frustrated. You've got to be a realist and I believe you can effect more change by working from inside. Others are better working from the outside, it depends on who you are," said Reynolds. He also admits mental health is "not a sexy illness and there's not a lot of money attached to it." Still, Reynolds is in for the long haul as he said he and his wife, envisioning retirement, see their son as part of it and want the best in place for him beyond it. For long-time consumers of the system, Reynolds would appear to be a good man to head the CAAC. CABINET REFACING BEFORE We can transform your existing cabinets with new doors and laminate in your choice of style & colour. Select complimentary hardware & have the kitchen of your dreams. AFTER No Payments, No Interest for 6 Months O.A.C. 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