Attack shines light on health-care system

Re Preparation helped hospital cope, April 25 Theresa Boyle’s report on Sunnybrook’s Code Orange superbly describes doctors and nurses overcoming obstacles during last week’s deadly attack.

Our nation has witnessed first-hand how mental illness can destroy happiness, not only for the ones afflicted, but for the entire society at large.

Mental illness is often overlooked and undervalued.

Today, patients are waiting longer and travelling further for mental-health services. Due to government’s systematic obsession with saving money, hospitals are regularly struggling with over-capacity.

Instead of dealing with mental health, our governments choose to invest in more security — putting up concrete barriers instead of bringing down the barriers to mental-health care. Kalvin Yu, Brampton The unimaginable horror in north Toronto last week provided a glimpse into how our healthcare system kicks into gear when a tragedy unfolds.

As the Star’s coverage revealed, nurses, physicians and paramedics sprang into action and rose to the incredible challenge before them.

With calm, quick precision and stellar expertise, they did what health professionals do: they worked collaboratively to save as many lives as possible.

I want to express tremendous gratitude for the outstanding role that Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and its entire staff played. Their capacity to respond in the midst of a difficult situation is simply inspiring and serves to reassure people in our city. Angela Cooper Brathwaite, president, Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, Toronto