CHEO looking for mental health nurses as it deals with spike in people needing services

By Alex Black

Year-over-year stats show a significant increase in those seeking mental health services at CHEO in 2020. 

A spokesperson for the children's hospital, Paddy Moore, says one of the most staggering statistic is for CHEO's eating disorder unit, which grew by 63 per cent for inpatient services.

As a result, the hospital has openings for eight additional mental health nurses to handle the influx, but says it's having a hard time filling those roles. 

Moore says CHEO isn't the only health care provider having issues.

All of the 27 other partners in the region that deliver child and youth mental health and addictions care (all members of the Kids Come First Health Team) have at least one vacancy they are trying to fill.

Moore says CHEO is also seeing an increase in demand for outpatient services, and calls the nurse shortage a 'crisis within the mental health crisis.'

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