More support needed for mental health care

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Nova Scotia division, is urging the government to provide better support for the mental health of marginalized people in the province.

“The time to act is now,” said Pamela Magee, the division’s director. “We can’t wait for Nova Scotians to become ill as a result of the trauma impact of the pandemic.”

Magee said historical data and research have shown that marginalized people will be affected at a level that mental health care resources in the province won’t be able to handle.

“The health-care system ... prior to the pandemic was illprepared to support the growing needs in the mental health realm and it continues to follow trend,” said Magee.

FUNDING NEEDED

In addition to re-evaluating the mental healthcare system in the province, Magee said the CMHA in Nova Scotia needs core funding to hire more staff and keep consistent programing that helps all Nova Scotians, particularly vulnerable communities.

Currently, the association relies on sponsorships and donations from the provincial government and non-governmental organizations. Magee told MLAS at the community services committee meeting Tuesday that the funding doesn't meet the increasing demand on the association's services.

Youth and aging women and men are some of the groups where the association is seeing growing need.

“Something I'm concerned about as a provincial leader is how long my team can continue to take on the demands and the roles that have been placed upon us … without additional support,” said Magee.

Increased investment into the CMHA could also help alleviate the pressure COVID-19 will continue to put on the province's mental health resources, she said. For example, research shows that more people could start presenting with post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) as a result of the pandemic.

“That needs dedicated support, programs, and services that won't be here today and gone tomorrow because we're reliant on seed funding.”

BENEFIT CONFUSION

There are several factors contributing to why marginalized people are disproportionately affected by the pandemic. For one, the systems put in place by the government to help people in need caused more confusion than relief.

The federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) program was meant to provide temporary relief to people who lost their jobs due to COVID-19. It paid $500 a week between Mar. 15 and Oct. 3. But messaging around whether people on income assistance qualify for CERB was conflicted, said Susan Henderson, executive director at CMHA, Nova Scotia division. She said the Department of Community Services first urged people on income assistance to apply for CERB. That was accompanied with little clarity on when the program would start or end and reports of double payments, especially during the early days of the program. There were also worries about having to pay back the money.

“This was something we've been concerned about right from the beginning,” said Marg Murray, co-manager at CMHA Halifax-dartmouth.

Through the social programs offered by the Canadian Mental Health Association in Nova Scotia, Murray said she works with adults aged 19 to 70 – and many over 70 years old – who in a lot of cases live with moderate to severe mental health issues, addictions, and isolation. Three quarters of them receive income assistance.

The Nova Scotia government didn't allow people to receive both income assistance payments and CERB at the same time in most cases, which put marginalized people, such as those Murray works with, at risk.

The CMHA in Nova Scotia advised people against applying for CERB because it could mean potentially losing income assistance or having to repay the CERB money. The end result would be not having enough money to afford basic necessities, like a place to live.

“We soon became aware that there were some people who thought they qualified, and they didn't and now, … although there's a cap on evictions, people … (are) worried.”

Kendra Koombes, NDP MLA for Cape Breton Centre asked if the one-time $50 payment the Nova Scotia government provided to support people on income assistance in March 2020 was enough to address their needs.

“Is $50 adequate? You know, it's not,” said Murray.