A bleak picture -- when it comes to the mental state of Halton's youths -- was presented to Halton Region's Health and Social Services committee last week.

It's bad enough that one in five Ontario children struggles with an emotional, mental or behavioural disorder, but if you add to that this region's atrocious wait times for services, you have a recipe for disaster.

The dire predicament of children's mental health services (or lack thereof) was presented to the region by Ron Rodgers, executive director of the Reach Out Centre for Kids known as ROCK.

"The need for child psychiatry in Halton outweighs the capacity to meet it," Rodgers said in his presentation. He noted that fewer than 25 per cent of kids with mental health issues are treated.

Fewer than 25 per cent?

That's not acceptable.

Wait times range anywhere from three months for ROCK's community out-reach program to a year for its psychology services, occupational therapy and behaviour management program.

A year's wait?

That's not acceptable.

ROCK receives funding from the province, region and United Way. It says it needs at least $1 million more to upgrade salaries and annualized cost of living.

You have got to believe that with this region's unprecedented growth the demand for such services will also increase at an alarming rate.

Oakville Councillor Fred Oliver has asked staff to report back on the creation of a task force to deal with youth mental health issues.

"We need to have the guts to get up and do something," Oliver said.

We couldn't agree more. Why wait for a staff report? Why not create the task force now?

Is this acceptable?

We don't think so.

Halton is a prosperous municipality. We can, and should, do better. The private sector, as well as all levels of government, must team up to ensure our youths receive the care they deserve.

Now that would be acceptable.