Once upon a time there was a young boy named Samuel. Samuel is 8 years old and, like many children, he loves playing with his friends. But Samuel has a secret: he has difficulty finding his words and understanding his comrades.
Every sentence is a struggle, every exchange a colossal effort. For years, he was misunderstood, his language difficulties had repercussions on his behavior, his self-confidence and, above all, his mental health. When Samuel was finally referred to a speech therapist, it was like a light had gone on in his world. His parents saw a brighter future for him.
But today, this light flickers.
Abolition of position
On December 12, Valérie (fictitious name), a passionate speech therapist at the CIUSSS de lʼOuest-de-lʼÎle-de-Montréal, received news that turned her professional life upside down. His permanent position, held for four years, was abolished as part of budget cuts imposed by Santé Québec. She is not the only one concerned: 30 positions, all types combined, disappear in this wave of cutbacks at the CIUSSS de lʼOuest-de-lʼÎle-de-Montréal. Valérie will now have to be reassigned, but without being able to choose her clientele or even continue the essential work she has been doing for years.
This decision has devastating consequences, not only for the professionals affected, but especially for young people like Samuel whose future directly depends on these services. Since taking charge of external clients, Valérie had managed to reduce the waiting list from two years to just five months. Young people in vulnerable situations, often struggling with mental health problems such as mood disorders or serious behavioral disorders, finally received the help they needed to progress.
These cuts, presented as a necessary evil by Santé Québec, are in fact an immense setback for the health of young people.
The services of a speech therapist, often the first safety net for detecting and intervening for mental health-related language difficulties, cannot simply be removed without consequence. Speech therapists like Valérie work in close collaboration with psychologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, social workers and specialized educators to draw up an overall portrait of young people in difficulty.
Disengagement
Cutting these essential services means directly slashing the future of our young people. By reducing speech therapy services, an entire multidisciplinary team is weakened and hundreds of young people find themselves without appropriate support. When we know that young people with a developmental language disorder (DLD) are more vulnerable to dropping out of school or to mental health issues, the situation is all the more alarming.
-These cuts are part of a broader trend of disengagement from mental health and essential services. How can we justify the abolition of crucial positions when the needs are dire and waiting lists are exploding?
The stories of Samuel and Valérie are those of thousands of Quebec families. The AQOA deplores this situation, which weakens the most vulnerable young people and discourages professionals dedicated to their cause. Every young person deserves to be heard. Every professional deserves to be supported.
Marie-Philippe Rodrigue
Speech therapist and president of the Quebec Association of Speech Therapists and Audiologists
Marie-Ève Beaulieu
Audiologist and vice-president of the Quebec Association of Speech Therapists and Audiologists
