Government deficit now hitting young people in psychological care

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22: Some 55 young Bermudians undergoing psychological treatment overseas are to be returned to Bermuda as a result of Government cutting back the budget for the Department of Child and Family Services.

The cutback from $5 million to $1.5 million will see young people prematurely uprooted from their treatment programmes overseas.

They are the latest victims of the Government’s multi-year spending spree that overspent millions of tax dollars and landed Bermuda with a deficit that is now costing it $190,000 a day in interest payments alone.

Many of the young people being brought home are experiencing individually designed treatment programmes. The action taken by Government to bring them home will significantly interrupt their treatment and, in some cases, may cause setbacks.

Under the previous minister of Social Rehabilitation and only a short period of time ago, Government announced that it had to use overseas psychological care services. This was due to deficiencies in professional services addressing the level and/or type of psychological care needed by some of Bermuda’s young.

The Government has claimed it has remedied the situation by developing the required resources, but we are sceptical given that all local psychological services and resources have been affected by significant cutbacks in Government support.

Our concern is that Bermuda cannot handle the return of 55 young patients whose overseas therapy and treatment has been interrupted.  Failing to adequately assume their particular treatment needs can carry severe consequences for each individual.

Government must start communicating with all stakeholders to develop an immediate and long-term approach to managing this very challenging situation. The priority concern must be to ensure that each child, and their families, receives proper and adequate care.

To assist in this undertaking, we recommend the formation of a board consisting of key members and leaders in the social and psychotherapy service field. The purpose of the Board would be to assist the government and helping agencies create a continuum of care plan, to identify problems and deficiencies in the field and formulate appropriate solutions.

The support and development of our children and families is critical to building a strong and healthy community for everyone. The One Bermuda Alliance will support any endeavour to ensure the young people and their families involved in this overseas programmes get the treatment they deserve here at home.