Staff and residents devastated over closure of mental health facility in Mission, B.C.

Another devastating cut to services for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.  Waddell's Haven Guest Home in Mission, B.C. at full capacity to be closed.

Vancouver (8 Dec. 2009) - Fraser Health Authority has announced more cuts to mental health and addiction services, according to the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE).

Waddell's Haven Guest Home in Mission, which provides services to psychiatric patients and drug and alcohol-addicted clients, has been given one year's notice of closure.

"This is yet another devastating cut to services for some of the most vulnerable people in our society," said Darryl Walker, BCGEU president. "This house is at full capacity and yet it is being closed."

The 24 residents will be moved to new locations throughout the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland provided there is room for them.

Workers and residents were told that the closure is a result of a 2006 survey to assess clients' needs and wants. Three years after completion of the survey, Fraser Health has decided to move residents to smaller homes, despite the residents themselves wanting to stay where they are.

"Waddell's Haven is a long-term home for most of the residents. The residents and workers are like family and none of them want to see this closure take place," said Brenda Brown, chair of the union's health care workers. "But no one asked the residents what they want. The health authority is just shutting down their home."

"The government is two years late on delivering its 10-year mental health plan, and so in the absence of any plan, they're cutting funding to mental health and addiction services across the province," said Walker. "It's short-sighted and will ultimately cost the government far more in increased health costs than it saves in the short-term."

In the past month, Walker has been addressing mental health funding cuts in Quesnel, Terrace, Victoria, Port Coquitlam and Maple Ridge.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE