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Mental Health and Addictions

The division was founded in 2001 to provide a strong, cohesive voice within OPSEU to promote awareness and treatment of mental health and addiction issues. We represent just over 8,000 members in public hospitals, which were formerly known as provincial psychiatric hospitals, as well as community mental and addiction health agencies.
Ed Arvelin

Latest News

2019 BPS Conference elects new divisional executives

2019 BPS Conference elects new divisional executives

New OPSEU members make the news

New OPSEU members make the news

Membership in frontline health care workers growing

Membership in frontline health care workers growing

OPSEU welcomes new members from the Canadian Mental Health Association

OPSEU welcomes new members from the Canadian Mental Health Association

Health consultations a political ploy, not a listening exercise: OPSEU President Thomas

Health consultations a political ploy, not a listening exercise: OPSEU President Thomas

Rallies to save the services that save us

Rallies to save the services that save us

OPSEU Local 133 hosts London bbq during Mental Health Awareness Week

OPSEU Local 133 hosts London bbq during Mental Health Awareness Week

Reducing the stigma during Mental Illness Awareness Week

Reducing the stigma during Mental Illness Awareness Week

OPSEU recognizes October as Autism Awareness Month

OPSEU recognizes October as Autism Awareness Month

Recovery Month: Celebrating those who have conquered addiction

Recovery Month: Celebrating those who have conquered addiction

President Thomas's letter to Minister Michael Tibollo re mental illness

President Thomas's letter to Minister Michael Tibollo re mental illness

Ford’s mental health remarks offensive and out of step with the times: OPSEU

Ford’s mental health remarks offensive and out of step with the times: OPSEU

Bargaining

People have been left out in the dark by AMHS

People have been left out in the dark by AMHS

The Kingston Whig-Standard has written a long article about the growing number of clients and…
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People with addictions, mental illness will suffer if dozens of highly experienced workers are laid off

People with addictions, mental illness will suffer if dozens of highly experienced workers are laid off

Kingston – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is urging the temporary supervisor of Addiction and…
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Management overhaul needed at Waypoint Mental Health: OPSEU

Management overhaul needed at Waypoint Mental Health: OPSEU

Penetanguishene – Waypoint workers have voted unanimously to demand the immediate resignation of all senior…
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Rideauwood addictions workers ratify their first contract

Rideauwood addictions workers ratify their first contract

Ottawa – Roughly 40 OPSEU members who provide addictions counselling and services at Rideauwood Addiction…
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Rideauwood addictions workers reach tentative agreement on first contract

Rideauwood addictions workers reach tentative agreement on first contract

Ottawa – After a lengthy round of bargaining, approximately 40 workers with Rideauwood Addiction and…
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Rideauwood Bargaining Fact Sheet

Rideauwood Bargaining Fact Sheet

Strike vote Thousands of people depend on the treatment we provide, but we can’t provide…
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Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services Bargaining Update

Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services Bargaining Update

Our employer promises to treat the people and communities we serve with “compassion and respect.”…
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Conciliator to assist with negotiations at Owen Sound HopeGreyBruce

Conciliator to assist with negotiations at Owen Sound HopeGreyBruce

Owen Sound – Staff at HopeGreyBruce Mental Health and Addictions Services will be in conciliation with…
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Letter from RPN Occupational Division in support of College Faculty

Letter from RPN Occupational Division in support of College Faculty

The OPSEU RPN Occupational Division sent the following letter of support to the members of the…
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CMHA workers in Brant Haldimand Norfolk ratify first contract

CMHA workers in Brant Haldimand Norfolk ratify first contract

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) workers in the Brant Haldimand Norfolk region have ratified their…
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OPTrust retirement benefits: workers’ win enhanced

OPTrust retirement benefits: workers’ win enhanced

OPSEU members with less than 10 years’ service in the OPTrust pension plan will now…
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OPSEU calls off contract talks at Waypoint

OPSEU calls off contract talks at Waypoint

The union representing employees at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care in Penetanguishene has suspended…
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OPSEU CMHA Thunder Bay votes 93% in favour of a strike!

OPSEU CMHA Thunder Bay votes 93% in favour of a strike!

The high turnout for the strike vote gives the Bargaining Team a strong mandate. The…
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Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care refuses to negotiate Health and Safety concerns

Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care refuses to negotiate Health and Safety concerns

The bargaining team representing 1,200 employees at Waypoint made the decision to suspend talks after…
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Timmins CMHA workers reach tentative agreement before strike deadline

Timmins CMHA workers reach tentative agreement before strike deadline

Canadian Mental Health Association workers in northeastern Ontario, represented by OPSEU Local 631, reached a…
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Northern CMHA staff to greet board with picket November 19

Northern CMHA staff to greet board with picket November 19

TIMMINS – Unionized staff at the Cochrane-Timiskaming Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) will greet their…
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Waterloo-Wellington-Dufferin CMHA workers to hold Nov. 15 rallies to support negotiations

Waterloo-Wellington-Dufferin CMHA workers to hold Nov. 15 rallies to support negotiations

The union representing almost 300 workers at the Canadian Mental Health Association – Waterloo- Wellington-Dufferin…
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Events

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Barbecue Fundraiser Event in St. Thomas to sound alarm on mental health cuts

Friday, October 18, 2019
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
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Barbecue Fundraiser Event in Woodstock to sound alarm on mental health cuts

Thursday, October 17, 2019
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
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Rally for Kingston’s addiction and mental health services

Tuesday, May 7, 2019
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
216 Ontario Street
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World Mental Health Day

Wednesday, October 10, 2018
12:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Canada
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Rally to rebuild and improve our public health care

Tuesday, October 23, 2018
12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
111 Wellesley St. W.
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Mental Health Division Bargaining Conference

Monday, October 29, 2018
To Tuesday, October 30, 2018
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
33 Gerrard St W

Information

Template submission: Ontario Health Coalition public consultation on hospital reform

Template submission: Ontario Health Coalition public consultation on hospital reform

Template submission for use by members of OPSEU As part of a public consultation on hospital reform, the Ontario Health…
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HOOPP seeks OPSEU trustee

HOOPP seeks OPSEU trustee

The OPSEU Pension Liaison Committee invites you or someone you know to get involved with the Healthcare of Ontario Pension…
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Take action to improve workplace health and safety!

Take action to improve workplace health and safety!

Take action! A message from Ed Arvelin, Chair of OPSEU’s Mental Health Division As members of OPSEU’s Mental Health Division we…
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From Knowledge to Action - A health and safety toolkit

From Knowledge to Action - A health and safety toolkit

A health and safety toolkit for OPSEU members facing violence at work in health care generally and mental health facilities…
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OPSEU EBM defends public health care before budget committee

OPSEU EBM defends public health care before budget committee

Good afternoon. My name is Len Elliott, Regional Vice-President for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union for Region 1, which…
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Speaking notes for OPSEU presentation to pre-budget consultation in Windsor

Speaking notes for OPSEU presentation to pre-budget consultation in Windsor

Good morning. My name is Philip Shearer. I am an Executive Board Member with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union…
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RPN Occupational Division Committee Members

RPN Occupational Division Committee Members

Lucy Morton, Chair Sector 17 – Community Health Care Professionals lucyamorton@rogers.com Christine Marshall, Vice Chair Sector 11 – Hospital Support…
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Critical Safety issues at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care

Critical Safety issues at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care

Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care: A brief overview OPSEU Local 329 represents more than 1,200 workers at Waypoint Centre…
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Proponents for an OPSEU RPN committee seeking help

Proponents for an OPSEU RPN committee seeking help

Hello Sisters & Brothers: Some time ago, several of our healthcare sectors were approached about re-establishing the RPN (Registered Practical…
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Divestment Pension Transfers Question & Answers

Divestment Pension Transfers Question & Answers

Information Surrounding Pension Transfers for Divested OPSEU Members OPSEU members who are still working and who may have pension contributions…
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Meet the 2013 - 2015 OPSEU Mental Health Executive Committee

Meet the 2013 - 2015 OPSEU Mental Health Executive Committee

NAME POSITION EMPLOYER Ed Arvelin eddyarvelin720@ gmail.com  CHAIR     Local 720- St. Joseph’s Care Group Alan Donaldson opseu307@rogers.com  VICE…
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Mental Health Division Symposium

Mental Health Division Symposium

Response to mental health must address poverty and housing Building on five priorities for change, OPSEU’s second mental health symposium…
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OPSEU hosts Town Hall in a bid to save BMHC

OPSEU hosts Town Hall in a bid to save BMHC

Brockville Mental Health Centre: Town Hall Meeting In a Town Hall meeting at the Royal Canadian Legion in Brockville last…
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Sad but predictable

Sad but predictable

Local 439 President David McDougall submits a letter to the editor in response the economic impact of the closure of…
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About the Mental Health Division

About the Mental Health Division

Who we are / What we do The Mental Health Division was founded on November 4, 2001 to provide a…
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Contacts

Shirley Shepherd
Secretary
Email: shirl.shepherd@gmail.com
Cynthia Ladouceur
Treasurer
Email: ladiesadie@icloud.com
Kevin Hudson
Bargaining Coordinator
Email: kevinhudson@sympatico.ca
Carol Mundley Bennett
Provincial Women's Committee [PWC], Social Justice Fund
Health & Safety Coordinator
Cell: (647) 625-6582
Email: cmundley@hotmail.com
Maggie Wakeford
Membership Coordinator
Email: maggiewakeford58@gmail.com
Tischa Forster
Division/Sector Executive
Vice Chair
Email: teesha@hotmail.ca
Dustin Bayley
Division/Sector Executive
Secretary
Email: dustinbayley@gmail.com
Andrew Drake
Division/Sector Executive
Public Policy & Campaigns
Email: andrewddrake17@gmail.com
Ed Arvelin
Division/Sector Executive
Chair
Email: eddyarvelin720@gmail.com

Your Employer

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Across Boundaries: An Ethnoracial Mental Health Centre

Addiction and Mental Health Services-Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington

Brockville Mental Health Centre - O&C

Brockville Mental Health Centre - Paramedical

Canadian Mental Health Association - Cochrane Timiskaming

Canadian Mental Health Association - Elgin

Canadian Mental Health Association - Ontario Division

Canadian Mental Health Association - Oxford

Canadian Mental Health Association - Sault Ste Marie

Canadian Mental Health Association - Thunder Bay

Canadian Mental Health Association - Wellington / Waterloo / Dufferin

Centre for Addiction & Mental Health

Frontenac Community Mental Health Services

Honeywell and St. Joseph's Health Care London

Lakeridge Health Corporation - Pinewood Centre

Leeds and Grenville Mental Health

Mental Health Services Hastings Prince Edward Corp

Nipissing Mental Health Housing Support Services

Ontario Shores Centre For Mental Health Sciences - Paramedical

Ontario Shores Centre For Mental Health Sciences - RNs

Ontario Shores Centre For Mental Health Sciences - Service and O&C

Providence Continuing Care Centre - Mental Health

Saint Elizabeth, Peel Crisis Services

St. Joseph's Care Group - O&C

St. Joseph's Care Group - Paramed

St. Joseph's Care Group - RNs

Trinity Square Cafe Inc

Waypoint Centre For Mental Health Care