AMHERST, N.S. — Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin is holding a public meeting to shine light on the shortage of psychiatrists at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre.
“People are coming to the Emergency Department in a life or death crisis and being sent away without seeing a specialist because unfortunately, there is no one there to provide psychiatry services,” Smith-McCrossin said in a news release. “We are placing these people and the health care professionals charged to care for them in an unsafe and unethical situation. It has to stop.”
The meeting will be held on Monday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Amherst Lions Club.
“Mental health and addictions is an overwhelming concern for people in my community,” the MLA said. “My hope is that this public meeting will help those suffering by providing knowledge on the resources we have available and to also bring everyone together to work on solutions.”
Smith-McCrossin introduced legislation this fall to have Cumberland Regional added to the facility lists of hospitals that can complete psych assessments on patients who fall under the psychiatric involuntary act.
