Nas últimas semanas, houve vários relatos de que a Clínica de Saúde Mental do Toronto Western Hospital estaria a fechar os serviços para a comunidade portuguesa. O Toronto Star numa edição da semana passada teve como manchete “Clínica Portuguesa de Saúde Mental de longa data está prestes a encerrar, levantando alarmes para o futuro dos serviços numa língua específica, em Toronto”.
Desde que Marit Stiles publicou uma carta alertando a comunidade sobre essa possibilidade, o Milénio Stadium consultou o ministro Michael Tibollo e outros sobre as consequências do encerramento dos serviços de saúde mental durante um período de pandemia. A 30 de março de 2021, o Milénio recebeu garantias de que os serviços continuariam e que apenas seriam necessários alguns pequenos ajustes na sua prestação.
A correspondência da UHN e do ministro Tibollo, que apresentamos em anexo, confirma a continuação dos serviços.
O Milénio Stadium continuará a acompanhar este assunto e comunicará à comunidade portuguesa todos os desenvolvimentos.
ln the past weeks there have been a number of reports that the Mental Health Clinic at Toronto Western Hospital would be closing to the Portuguese Community. The Toronto Star in an edition last week had a headline “Long standing Portuguese Mental Health Clinic is set to close, raising alarms for the future of language specific services in Toronto”.
Since Marit Stiles published a letter alerting the community to this possibility, Milenio Stadium consulted Minister Michael Tibollo and others about the consequences of removing mental health services during a time of the pandemic. On March 30, 2021, Milenio received assurances that the services would continue and that some minor adjustments in the delivery of services were required.
Correspondence from UHN and Minister Tibollo confirm the continuance of services.
Milenium Stadium will continue to follow this issue and advise the Portuguese community accordingly.
Manuel DaCosta/MS
“Dear Minister Tibollo, Please find a copy of a letter sent to a referring family physician to our mental health program. Sadly, whenever a valued colleague moves along, especially those with unique linguist and cultural skills we take some time to readjust our programs. Fortunately, there are a number of other Portuguese speaking clinicians at the clinic as well as translation services which will be increasingly made available. Should you have any other questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at your convenience. Sincerely Kevin Smith”
“Dear Dr.xxxxxx Please be assured that the clinic is “not folding”! We are continuing to be open for business with mental health clinicians and psychotherapists who speak Portuguese continuing to be available at TWH. Thank you for taking the time to reach out and clarify the confusion. We know how valuable the service is. We are also sending a letter out to all of the SCOPE and referring doctors to ensure clarity and I have attached it to this email. Best regards, Susan Susan Abbey, MD, FRCPC Psychiatrist-in-Chief, Centre for Mental Health, University Health Network Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
“Earlier last year, I was proud to launch the Roadmap to Wellness: A Plan to Build Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions System – our government’s plan to build a modern, connected and integrated mental health and addictions system,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “To enable Roadmap to Wellness, our government is investing $3.8 billion over 1O years to create new services and expand programs. Through our Roadmap to Wellness, we are committed to providing culturally safe and age-appropriate mental health and addictions supports to all Ontarians, no matter where they live in the province of Ontario. To be clear, public hospitals are independent corporations that are governed by their boards of directors and are responsible for their day-to-day operations. I want to thank University Health Network for their commitment to keeping the Portuguese community informed on this matter, and for continuing to provide access to culturally safe mental health care for the local community”. Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Michael Tibollo
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