‘We’re well aware that it’s a concern’
No decisions yet on how to care for children in mental health crisis
No decisions have yet been made about how to proceed with offering emergency and in-patient care to children facing mental health crises in Cape Breton as the Nova Scotia Health Authority continues to explore its options, a spokesperson says.
Greg Boone, a spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Health Authority, said Monday the district is looking at various measures, which have included reaching out to the IWK in Halifax.
“The shortage and the vacancies around psychiatry is a concern to us as well, we’re well aware that it’s a concern to the public and to patients and we’re doing everything we can at this stage to look at options,” Boone said.
The Cape Breton Post reported Saturday on an internal document that states that mental health services in Cape Breton are at a “tipping point” and proposes that anyone under age 19 in crisis requiring psychiatric help would not be seen in the Cape Breton Regional Hospital’s emergency department or admitted locally. Instead, they would be sent to the IWK in Halifax.
That is the plan set out in an internal memo from Scott Milligan, site lead with the department of psychiatry, distributed to local emergency department doctors. He had proposed that the recommendation be put into effect this Friday.
The zone is soon to be down to six psychiatrists from 14 prior to December 2014, and also has one part-time child psychiatrist.
Milligan said in the memo psychiatrists at the regional hospital are regularly asked to see youth under age 19 in the emergency department and are forced to admit youths to adult
psychiatric in-patient units, a practice he said can’t continue. He said continuing to attempt to meet all of their requirements under current staffing levels would put their professional licences in jeopardy.
Boone said the NSHA knows it needs to change how it delivers some mental health services due to the shortage of psychiatrists, “at least for the time being.” While Cape Breton has seven adult psychiatrists, the Halifax area has more than 120 psychiatrists, as well as 39 residents and two fellows.
Other possibilities the NSHA is exploring include looking at what help may be found at other locations within the integrated health authority, as well as the possible use of telehealth technology in areas such as consultations and appointments.
“These are just discussions, these are possibilities that we’re talking about, we haven’t settled on any of them,” Boone said.
If someone requires assistance, they are encouraged to call the mental health crisis line, phone 911, attend their local emergency department or talk to their primary care provider, he added. They can also selfrefer to the community-based adult and child/adolescent mental health and addictions service.