Ottawa

CHEO, Royal wait lists for youth mental health treatment still 'extensive'

The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and The Royal have developed a five-year plan they hope will reduce "extensive" wait times for children and youth seeking treatment for mental health issues.

5-year strategic plan launched to improve care at CHEO, The Royal

The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre have created a five-year plan to improve access to mental health services for children and youth, and reduce wait times. (iStock)

The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and The Royal have developed a five-year plan they hope will reduce continued "extensive" wait times for children and youth seeking treatment for mental health issues.

Since 2010, CHEO has seen an average 75-per-cent increase in the number of mental health-related visits to its emergency room.

At The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, the number of days inpatients spend there are up 22 per cent since 2010, and the severity of the mental health issues being treated is also on the rise. 

The two facilities have worked together for 15 years but despite the increasing demand for services, the time it takes for children and youth to get treatment hasn't improved enough.

Wait times for outpatient services at CHEO are six to nine months, down only "slightly," according to the hospital. At The Royal, the wait time is about six months. Both hospitals said they try to deal with "urgent referrals" within three weeks.

The hospitals have launched a five-year Young Minds Partnership strategy to address the issue and have pledged to release a report card each year.

The goals of the strategy are to:

  • Reduce wait times using the Choice and Partnership Approach.
  • Offer more help to children and youth while they wait for treatment, and help parents and caregivers find the right services at the right time.
  • Improve emergency care.
  • Dedicate beds at CHEO to children under 12 years old with severe mental health problems.
  • Give more effective help to children and youth with substance abuse and mental health problems, homeless youth, youth in juvenile justice, and those who have experienced trauma.
  • Improve work with francophone, Inuit, First Nations, ethnocultural, and LGBTQ children and youth.

Need help?

If you need help dealing with a mental health issue, here are some resources in the area.

Ottawa Distress Centre: 613-722-6914.
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868.
Child, Youth and Family Crisis Line for Eastern Ontario: 1-877-377-7775 (or 613-260-2360 in Ottawa).
Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre: 613-741-6025.
Mental Health Crisis Line (ages 16 and up): 613-722-6914.
Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa: 613-260-2360.