December 17, 2020
By Bailey Reid, Manager of Policy & Public Engagement, Canadian Mental health Association Newfoundland and Labrador
Through our work and community, we became aware of the recent tragedy at the Waterford Hospital. I offer humble and heartfelt sympathies on behalf of CMHA-NL to family members, and all members of our community impacted by this loss, including the health care workers affected.
Our community has been waiting, watching, and yearning for a change to the Waterford Hospital. There have been statements made, news articles published, and reports written about the hospital: on its physical disrepair, its approach to healthcare, and ideas for change. It is obvious the Waterford is physically outdated, and that part alone makes it difficult for recovery and healing. CMHA-NL believes building a new psychiatric hospital is not the catch-all solution. We require a larger mental health system transformation. We need the social architecture of our community and mental health system to be re-built. We must change and reshape our perspective on mental health and mental illness as a social problem and not solely a medical one. Read the full story.