Crime victims ask for more mental health support in Ontario
For family members of crime victims, the road to recovery can be a long one. A Vaughan woman, whose husband was gunned down and killed, is leading a mission to change things to help people like her cope. “I can just tell you, that call changed our lives forever,” said Heather Jones-Parkes while recalling the […]
Crime victims in Ontario are demanding improved mental health support following recent incidents. Heather Jones-Parkes, whose husband was killed in a random shooting, is advocating for better mental health resources for crime victims. Her husband, Delroy "George" Parkes, was gunned down outside a high school in North Etobicoke on June 2, 2024, during a soccer match.
Jones-Parkes received counseling through Victim Services Ontario immediately after the incident, but she feels it was insufficient. She and other victims are meeting with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Ontario MPPs to push for more support. The government has allocated over $62 million to victim services, including $22 million for the Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario program, but victims still believe more is needed. Jones-Parkes continues her advocacy while coping with her own emotional struggles.
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