More Forensic Mental Health Services Greeted Warmly by Advocates

April 27, 2006 (Toronto,On) - The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario and the Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs (the Federation) today welcomed Health Minister George Smitherman’s announcement of 75 new forensic hospital beds and 30 additional case managers for mentally ill people involved in the criminal court system.

"The government is taking positive steps to help ensure that the forensic mental health system capacity can better match the demand for services," said Judith Tompkins, Chief of Nursing Practice and Professional Services and Executive Vice-President of Programs, CAMH. "This investment helps to meet the needs of people with severe mental illness who need care in hospitals, as well as those individuals who are able to move into the community and receive care there."

CAMH serves a significant portion of the forensic mental health population of Ontario—people who are ordered into its care by the courts or the Ontario Review Board. Recently its forensics units have been operating at full capacity on a continuous basis, as the demand for court-ordered assessment and treatment for this mentally ill population exceeds the supply. The Minister’s announcement includes the conversion of 12 interim forensic beds at CAMH into permanent beds, and refers to new beds for Penetanguishene, Ottawa and London.

“The problem of mentally ill people who get in trouble with the law is a complex issue that goes beyond the need for more hospital beds,” said Karen McGrath, Executive Director of CMHA Ontario. “That’s why we were also pleased to see the Ministry announce 30 additional forensic case managers to support mentally ill offenders move from hospital care to the community when ready.”

“It was great to hear the Minister point out the importance of community programs to keep mentally ill people out of the criminal justice system in the first place,” said David Kelly of the Federation. “We strongly support the Ministry’s focus on community services targeting this population—such a safe beds, crisis intervention, mental health court support, intensive case management, and supportive housing—as being a very important part of the larger solution.”

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Media Contacts:

Karen McGrath, CMHA, Ontario 416 977-5580 Ext. 4126

Michael Torres, CAMH 416 595-6015

David Kelly, OFCMHAP 416 490-8900 Ext.22