WELLAND COUNCILLOR SUPPORTS EMERGENCY DECLARATION

tive when Welland resident Steven Soos brought the idea forward last year.

Lincoln, rather than supporting Soos' call, came up with its own motion, instead calling on the region to "recognize and acknowledge mental health as a regional crisis and support solutions to end homelessness and addiction."

Van Vliet, meanwhile, said Soos, who has been very public with his mental health struggles, should be taken seriously.

"I commend the guy. He admits, 'Hey, I have a problem.' There are many people who want to do things, but he's got the personal experience."

Tara McKendick, executive director for the Canadian

Mental Health Association's Niagara chapter, said she wasn't sure how helpful a declaration would be.

"It's true that Niagara would benefit from more community resources to respond to mental health and addictions, but not aware of the impact an emergency declaration would or could have specifically, which would be different from the current efforts by the sectors to invest in these areas."

She added that there is a shortage of mental health resources in Niagara,

"Community health service providers have not had a base budget increase to keep up with inflation in over 10 years," she said. "Quick analysis tells us that technically we have been defunded by approximately 25.6 per cent against inflation, and at the same time, that need continues to increase."

The funding crunch, she said, hurts the not-for-profit sector with the recruitment and retention of staff and ultimately impacts services such as case management, housing support, crisis beds and timely access to counselling.

The push to declare a state of emergency goes back two years and was a joint effort between Soos and Niagara Falls city councillor Wayne Campbell, who lost his daughter, Katey, to suicide. It was hoped with the Region on board, it would convince the province to provide additional funding to tackle the three societal issues.