Mental health: health care reform, in part, responsible

Photo Simon Clark
The minister of Health, Gaétan Barrette

Héloïse Archambault

Tuesday, 11 July, 2017 14:21

UPDATE
Tuesday, 11 July, 2017 14:21

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The increase in sick leave psychological in the Health-care system is in part related to the reform in 2015, admits the minister Gaétan Barrette, who had foreseen this period of shortness of breath.

“It is documented that in a reform, (…) there is a period of shortness of breath. This is where you are”, responds to the Newspaper the minister of Health Gaétan Barrette.

Situation predictable

“But, it is not necessary to think that we live in a permanent state of affairs. It is a situation that is predictable and expected, ” he said. (…) But, like all the times, I am convinced that things will return to normal.”

This morning, The Journal revealed that the number of employees of the Health network in judgment of disease due to mental health has exploded in the past few years.

At the Centre of integrated health and social services Montérégie-Est, the number of records for psychological health have been open for five years has jumped by 55 %.

Increased pressure, customer heavier, lack of recognition: many employees have denounced the deterioration of working conditions, especially since the reform of the network, in 2015.

“The minister has a vision very mechanical health, says Diane Lamarre, member of parliament for the Parti québécois and spokesperson in the field of health. For the dimension of mental health, it is very difficult to mobilize.”

“Very worrying”

“This is very worrying,” adds Lise Lavallée, the mna for the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) and spokesperson for public health. I hope that the minister will take note and ensure that the working climate become a little more healthy.”

In this regard, the minister Barrette said that he was concerned by this situation, observed for many years. He wishes, moreover, that the support measures are put in place, without, however, giving a concrete example.

“The question that arises is: what is it that we can put in place as a measure to reduce, and ideally reverse this trend-there?”

Moreover, the latter ensures that network managers are taking this issue seriously.

According to Ms. Lamarre, the austerity measures introduced in the network since the arrival of Dr. Barrette is in question.

“The working conditions have deteriorated, and what was supposed to be temporary becomes permanent,” said the mp.

Too the doctors

According to this, a portion of the amounts allocated in the income increases to 20 000 physicians of quebec should return to some 270,000 employees of the network.

“We have siphoned off the public system, but they are the ones who care for vulnerable patients,” she said.