Remote mental health support available to people who need it
We’re still open.
That’s the message local mental health providers have for anyone who finds themselves struggling due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“People are feeling very anxious and very overwhelmed and are worried about what’s going,” said Barb Evans, Niagara Health’s director of patient care for mental health and addictions.
“I want them to know we’re still open and we’re hear to support you.”
While face-to-face supports have been temporally halted, Niagara Health mental health staff are supporting clients through video conferencing and over the telephone. “We need to have ways to maintain that connection and make sure that people feel supported,” Evans said.
Video conferencing is not a new concept for staff, as it has been used within its mental health programs for several years.
“It fits quite well with the current situation we find ourselves in,” Evans said.
“There are going to be some instances where patients don’t have mobile device or an iPad and for these clients we are following up with telephone calls.”
Video conferencing will be available to clients at Pathstone Mental Health in the coming weeks.
“This was the direction we were moving, but it has since been expedited due to COVID-19,” said Kim Rossi, director of philanthropy and public relations for the Pathstone Foundation.
Counselling and supports are being offered over the phone and the agency is still accepting new clients.
Also, the agency’s 24-hour crisis line has been re-tooled to become a crisis and support line.
“The thought before was you have to be in crisis to call, but, with COVID-19, that’s all changed,” Rossi explained.
“It can be for parents who are also stressed out, who just need some tools, some ideas, some coping skills. And it can also be a youth that needs to talk, or a parent who wants to talk to someone on behalf of their child or youth. It’s open ended.”
Need help? For immediate risk, call 911.
Pathstone’s 24/7 crisis and support line is 1-800-263-4944. Its offices are temporarily closed but counsellors are available and working from home.
To reach a counsellor at any time, youth can call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868. Niagara Health’s mental health and addictions access line is 1-866-550-5205.
Niagara Distress Centre’s 24hour emergency numbers are 905-688-3711, 905-734-1212, 905-382-0689 and 905-5636674. To communicate with a counsellor via text and chat, between 2 p.m. and 2 a.m. dial 258258 from a mobile device, or go to dcontario.org and click the ONTX button.
Counsellors at COAST (Crisis Outreach and Support Team) Niagara, coordinated by the Niagara chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association, are available at 1-866-550-5205 and press 1.