Bridging the gap in services
Pilot project for mental health and addictions hopes to have launch date in September
A new e-service/virtual care project that provides help in the areas of mental health and addictions is in the final planning stages.
And it is something that was instigated here in Cape Breton.
“We are at the table and have been from the start,” said Rochelle Hatcher, community fundraising officer at the Cape Breton Hospital Foundation. “We are always a part of the talks about how this program will work.
“We are really excited to get the information out about this project.”
The program gives clients the opportunity to text or message through a computer instead of calling to find out information about services. People can also have sessions this way with their therapists or counsellors.
“You could live in Inverness and not need to drive to Sydney for your appointment,” Hatcher explained. “Or you Hatcher MacLellan People may soon be able to access therapists, counsellors and more with a new virtual care/e-service that is currently in the demonstration phase.
could live in Sydney and not have to go to Halifax for your care.”
It’s being developed by the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s Mental Health and Addictions department and the IWK Health Centre and will provide the service provincewide. The goal is to enhance outreach and communication with patients and clients, especially at-risk youth. The Cape Breton Hospital Foundation has been
helping with funding, which is coming from many different community members.
Chelsea McLellan is one person who has been integral in getting funding for this pilot project. After her brother, Connor, took his life when he was 18, McLellan started a walk in his honour with hopes of donating the money raised to improve mental health services for youth in Cape Breton. This is when she found out about the pilot project.
“It was really Chelsea who got the funding for this started. She was the first one who was literally knocking on doors asking for donations,” said Hatcher.
To date, McLellan has donated more than $15,000 to the project.
“Everything that I have been fundraising for has been going to this pilot project. It is a service that is really designed for early intervention strategies for youth,” explained McLellan.
It’s a service she thinks is needed in Cape Breton.
“It’s perfect for today’s generation who are really based in technology. And for people who aren’t comfortable going into a space that deals with mental health and finding a doctor themselves. They will be able to just text if that is what they feel more comfortable with.”
McLellan added: “You will be talking with real people, not some robot.”
While part of her motivation to get involved is personal because of what she went through losing her brother to suicide, she also wants to help create a solution to the bigger problem she sees around her.
“Everything that’s been going on in Cape Breton, especially with youth, I really just don’t want to see another person take their life for something that could be overseen. I don’t want to see more people make a permanent decision for a temporary problem,” she said.
“I hope they can keep it going and that it takes and that people will actually use these services.”
The service is in the demonstration phase where they are figuring out things like how to deal with various situations and how to recommend the fastest ways to get services for the client.
Hatcher confirmed they hope to have more information about the service, including a launch date, in September.
People need a referral from Mental Health and Addictions to use the service and it isn’t meant to replace the crisis line or crisis team at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. There is hope it will increase services available and will decrease wait times to see therapists and counsellors.
“Our community is helping fund this. There are great things happening in our community when it comes to improving services for mental health and addiction services,” said Hatcher. “It will help remove the stigma around getting help.”