Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic was getting closer to Canada and then paralyzed most of the country with quarantine, the concerns about the public’s mental wellbeing have been growing.
The Mercury reached out to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Weyburn branch, covering the southeast corner of the province, to see how the situation has been so far in the area.
Tasha Collins, the program director for the CMHA Weyburn branch, said that even though they’ve been closed to the public they are still available for some services and supports. However, she noted that what they’ve been witnessing is not what they were predicting at the beginning of the quarantine.
“At this time, we have not received an influx of calls for support despite having the wellness support response line available at extended hours. We are expecting to have increased needs for support as we move forward, and this goes on,” said Collins.
Although the number of calls didn’t go up too much, the reason for many calls was different from before.
“Many of the calls we are receiving have to do in some way with the pandemic. Whether it is about government benefits including GST, CERB, etc., looking into what services and who is available to offer, or just wanting to talk about what they are experiencing at this time,” said Collins.
In mid-April, CMHA started talking about a potential echo pandemic of mental illness and mental health issues as a result of COVID-19. In their statement, they call for immediate action to get ready to handle the possible aftereffects of the current pandemic.
“To avoid a potential echo pandemic of mental illness and mental health issues as a result of COVID-19, the …CMHA calls for immediate investment in the scale-up of cost-effective, evidence-based community mental health programs and supports that can take the pressure off acute-care services across Canada,” says the statement.
“The hard truth is that our mental health system in Canada already lacked the capacity to meet demand before this pandemic began. We must act now to ensure we are prepared for a surge in mental health problems as a result of COVID-19,” said Margaret Eaton, CMHA’s national CEO.
CMHA recommended that Canada significantly increase “mental health-promotion programs and supports for those experiencing new pandemic-related stress and anxiety and to stave off new demands on the system coming from the increases in depression, psychological distress, substance use, PTSD and domestic violence that almost always accompany large-scale disasters.”
“Intervening early, before people are in crisis, is not only the most compassionate and effective way to help get people back on their feet, it’s also the most cost-effective,” added Eaton.
And while the country is gearing up to face the mental aftereffects of the pandemic, quarantine and self-isolation, there are a few things that people may do to ensure their mental wellbeing.
“Try not to ignore or suppress anxious thoughts… Self-care is critically important… Seek information from reliable news sources only…Take recommended precautions as outlined by Health Canada… Try to stay connected to friends, family and other supports,” outlines the CMHA National office. (For more details check cmha.ca).
If people are feeling significant distress, they are encouraged to reach out for formal mental health supports from a health care professional or a local CMHA. The Weyburn branch is available to whoever may need supports or services, and they encourage anyone who may be struggling with their mental health or just in need of a conversation to contact them. The services currently available through CMHA Weyburn branch are:
• A new CMHA wellness support response line for the southeast corner is available during extended hours from 1-8 p.m., Monday through Friday at 306-861-4951. (Note: This is a wellness support line, not a crisis line).
• Phone and email support and resources for the community and participants, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (306-842-7959) or over email ([email protected]).
• They are also providing lunches for CMHA Weyburn participants (including from other communities in the southeast) in need, following precautions.
• They are calling all current participants weekly to check-in, have a conversation and offer support if needed.
• They also came up with a few other local initiatives such as borrowing movies and supporting community-led initiatives.
