2023-04-27 17:24:25
Unable to reduce waiting lists due to increased demand for mental health services, Minister Lionel Carmant wonders about the relevance of keeping this indicator.
Some 20,000 people are still waiting for a first appointment with a mental health professional. This number has changed little since the height of the pandemic, despite the $100M investment in November 2020.
On Thursday, the Minister responsible for Social Services argued that the health network nevertheless manages to offer more consultations than in the past, without significant effect on the waiting list.
“Before the pandemic, we saw 700,000 patients per year for mental health problems, now we have reached 900,000 per year, therefore, an increase of 200,000”, underlined the minister during the study of credits. in the National Assembly.
New approach
Lionel Carmant therefore wants to ensure that people who come to the emergency room for a mental health issue leave with an appointment. “I want them to be seen quickly by a mental health team. And I want us to make sure there’s a follow-up. So, with this follow-up, there will be no need for additional consultation requests.”
Emergencies respond to some 3 million consultation requests annually, underlines the Minister.
“So that’s how we’re going to manage to reduce demand and reduce the waiting list and also make sure to close the revolving doors,” he explained in response to questions from the MP. solidarity Christine Labrie.
Minister Carmant says the current situation is creating frustration on the ground. “They tell me: I work, I see more and more patients and then they tell me that I am not efficient,” he reported.
“So I think maybe we don’t have a good indicator, actually. But I think the important thing is that we continue to make efforts for as many people as possible,” he said.
The idea is reminiscent of the recent release of Education Minister Bernard Drainville and Premier François Legault, who proposed to review the ranking of dilapidated schools.
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