A letter to the editor published in yesterday's edition of The Chronicle Herald:
Re: "Suicide prevention: Time to get on with what works" by Stan Kutcher (Sept. 12).
Lack of treatment was acceptable in children’s mental health when we didn’t know the difference. However, it is totally unacceptable when the knowledge and proof of improved capability of sustaining a productive life is within a proper treatment plan, but lacks the dollars and commitment to provide it. All children deserve proper treatment without prejudice and stigma over their mental health issues!
It is time for the torture, neglect and abuse to stop. It is time for psychiatrists to stop delivering inadequate treatment proposals to parents and caregivers for their mentally ill children, because the province does not support the mental health needs of its young people, or perhaps, the hospital itself covers its inadequacy.
It is time for our government to invest more dollars into treatment facilities, with not just meds and beds, but with the educated, experienced staff and specialized treatment programs when prescribed. It is time for our children’s hospital to invest in a psychiatric unit and all existing mental health treatment programs, an art therapy program, music therapy program, "in house" psychologists and "on-call psychologists" when in-patient youth are in trauma episodes.
Actually, it is past time!
Sherry Beck Ramey, New Germany
