Hay Centre in Ottawa, said detention centres like hers are not equipped to provide adequate mental health care for children in the same way as Syl Apps. Joanne Lowe, executive director of William E. The spokesperson added all kids now residing in these youth justice facilities “continue to have access to mental health and addictions supports based on their individual needs,” and emphasized the ministry’s funding boost last year of $2.5 million for mental health services for youth in the justice system with complex needs. They need a full-spectrum of care, including complex medication plans.Ī spokesperson at MCCSS said the youth transferred in September from Syl Apps were relocated to youth justice facilities in their home communities, and no prior notice was provided “to prevent their programming from being further impacted.” Many had endured severe trauma and some had borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia. A quarter were female.īarry said most of the children treated at Syl Apps had a combination of a diagnosed conduct disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities, depression or addiction issues. The majority of the children were from racialized backgrounds - 35 per cent were in foster care and 10 per cent were from northern Ontario.
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“Those beds had been full for years,” Moran said.Īccording to an analysis by CMHO, most of the children who received treatment at Syl Apps from 2018 to 2020 had an average of four mental illnesses, and over half had been suicidal in the past. The remaining six beds were empty as others had recently been discharged and the centre was to transfer in more children from their wait-list, she added. Kim Moran, president and CEO of CMHO, said she confirmed 15 children were removed from Syl Apps in September. They added the province failed to consult with relevant stakeholders before making the decision to close the program. A provincial spokesperson previously told the Star the closures will save $39.9 million a year.īut employees at Syl Apps and mental health advocates say their beds have been consistently occupied. The closure of beds is part of the shutdown of 26 youth justice facilities by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), after several audit reports highlighted the underutilization of these facilities. Ontario has not done so, despite mounting pressure from Ontario’s largest children’s hospitals, the New Democratic Party and former deputy ministers tasked with the youth services file. Eight months later, pressure is mounting on the government to reverse its decision, as advocates say the youth, now scattered in youth justice centres across the province, are not receiving adequate mental health care.Ĭhildren’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO), a provincial advocacy group, met with government officials as recently as last week, asking the province to reopen those beds or implement pathways for similar intensive treatment for youth in detention centres. The children, aged 12 to 18, were transferred out of Syl Apps, a secure mental health facility operating out of Kinark Child and Family Services, after the province cut funding to its 25 intensive treatment beds for youth in detention, reducing the facility’s overall capacity. “We had worked diligently with these children.”
“It was very traumatic,” Barry said, for both children and staff. He was Indigenous, and said the abrupt transfer reminded him of the stories he’s heard from family about residential schools. Confused and afraid, one child turned to her in tears, Barry recalls. “The government called the head office in the morning and we were notified to get the children ready, and they were all gone by four o’clock,” said Barry, who has worked at Syl Apps for more than 20 years. That morning, the youth worker at Syl Apps Youth Centre in Oakville watched helplessly as 15 children in their care were rounded up and suddenly transferred to other detention centres on orders from the province.
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