While children to the age of 18 receive services from the Ministry of Community and Social Services, care for youth aged 16 to 24 falls under the mandate of the Ministry of Health. Unfortunately, adolescents may end up receiving services based on their age, though not necessarily suited to their needs. For instance, our children's health care system tends to address mental health problems, but not addictions. Youth thus end up entering the adult system, with often very severe, poly-drug addictions that have gone untreated for several years. As well, many youth suffer from depression, anxiety, isolation and a sense of inadequacy.
Seniors are also a neglected group.
There are not enough geriatric psychiatrists or geriatric psychiatry teams to respond to their mental health problems, and not enough services to treat older persons in the community. Older persons may suffer from physical health problems, grief over friends or partners dying, and shame associated with their mental health or addiction problem. Problems such as alcohol misuse become more difficult to identify in retired people, as may other signs associated with aging, such as poor memory, falls, depression and isolation. Our treatment of aboriginals is also inadequate. Many make frequent and unnecessary visits to emergency rooms and end up admitted to hospital, due to lack of co-ordination of services and failure to understand these people's needs.