Lettre d'un proche d'un usager

London Ontario, February 23, 2025

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Mr. Lionel Carmant
Minister in charge of Social Services
Québec

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Dear Minister Carmant,

I am here to plea in favor of the support and continuation of the unique treatment in caring atmosphere offered by the Centre psychanalytique de traitement pour jeunes adultes psychotiques, located at 388, St-Vallier Ouest in Quebec City, popularly known as the 388.

My name is Dr. Jain. I myself is a retired psychiatrist and the grandfather of a patient of the 388. I've known the 388 for a while, since my granddaughter started going to this Center 9 years ago. It is very impressive how the comprehensive indepth work is done for all aspects of the patients' lives. Their approach is very holistic - medical, psychological, social and personal. It is very impactful and beneficial with tangible results on patients' lives. I hope and pray that the 388 remains open and functions just like for the past 43 years. Please preserve its integrity as it is unique and one of its kind psychiatric centre in the world. This is a great service for the society and medical world.

I was the Chairman of the psychiatry Department along with the clinical work. My clinical approach was a team approach along with family and social life. I highly recommend that the 388 remains open as it has demonstrated valuable clinical results through their extensive approach for patients' treatment. I would really appreciate that this could be done as the patients are extremely well looked after by the 388 and are functioning as being fully part of the society. Here at 388, patients are made to feel as an active partner of their own well-being and treatment.

In my view, it was a very compassionate and futuristic approach taken by the GIFRIC and the founders of the 388, namely Mr. Willy Apollon, Dr. Danielle Bergeron and Ms. Lucie Cantin when they created the Center in 1982. At the forefront I would like to emphasize their bold and yet ethical effort to create a comforting place for the psychotic patients who already are very fragile and vulnerable.

Personally, it has been extremely helpful and reassuring for me to know that the team of the 388 is accompanying my granddaughter as we live far away in London Ontario. The fact that such a competent and caring team is in place to support her as well as people like her at all times of the day and night 365 days a year is priceless. It is an incomparable relief for us and I am immensely grateful for that.

The 388 is a very cost-effective Center compared to psychiatric services in any other hospital. Even if it wasn't the case, we need to think in terms of the human impact as patients are more important because they get an immense benefit out of it. The important thing is that it should stay open and provide the services and support in its holistic way that means through art, psychiatric treatment, psychoanalysis, medication, physical, social and cultural activities, etc. This is very important this service is provided away from hospital environment and that the patients and their families can be supported. Hence, I strongly recommend that the 388 should continue to provide its effective and meaningful services to the patients and their relatives as at present.

I would like to thank you for your time and consideration in this important matter. I sincerely appreciate your attention and hope that you will give due regard to the significant impact decision will have on the individuals affected. Your leadership and thoughtful consideration are greatly appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Subhash Jain
Grandfather of a user of the 388 services
B. Sc., MB. BS, M.D., M.R.C.P. (UK), FRCP (Glasgow), FRCPsych (UK), FRCPC
Retired Consultant psychiatrist
Retired Professor of Psychiatry - University of Western Ontario
Retired Professor and Chair of Department of Psychiatrty - Memorial University of Newfoundland