Province pledges emotional aid

Calgar y — After pledging to rebuild homes and infrastructure damaged by flooding, the Alberta government promised Friday to also help repair psyches wounded by the disaster.

Premier Alison Redford and Health Minister Fred Horne announced that in response to the past week’s events the province is consolidating mental health services under Dr. Michael Trew, who will serve as a new chief mental health officer.

A key concern is the mental health and emotional well-being of those under stress from the worst flooding in provincial history, such as individuals and families forced from their homes — many of whom can’t return — and the workers who have gone flatout to deal with the disaster and its consequences.

“What we need to do is help people support each other,” said Trew.

“It’s not unlike grieving. Sometimes what happens early on is that rush … and then we’re left with ourselves and having to live through the feelings.”

At the announcement at the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre, Redford said mental health resources will be there for those affected by the flood as long as they are needed.

“We will do everything we can to help Albertans heal and to help Alberta heal. We will move forward and eventually we will leave this trauma behind,” she said.

Horne said the move is in line with the decision earlier this week to unite public health resources under the chief medical officer of health, Dr. Jim Talbot.

Trew is currently Alberta Health Services’ senior medical director of addiction and mental health and will remain in that role as he takes up his new post, a job in which he will report directly to the health minister. Trew’s duties will include co-ordinating the deployment of mental health resources, providing mental health information, and ensuring the needs of flooding victims are addressed and met.

“He will have the ability to deploy staff and other resources to communities across the province as required,” said Horne.

“I have asked Dr. Trew to reach out to people who we may believe are affected and to offer them services and support where they are.”

Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia have also offered to providing additional staff such as registered psychiatric nurses, social workers and counsellors as needed to Alberta, said Horne.

A guide to mental health resources is on the Alberta Health Services website and the province has a mental health helpline at 1-877303-2642.