Inaction on rural mental health can prove costly
The Brandon SunNov 16, 2019
Mental health is not a destination, it’s a process. And the process could be smoothed considerably if the province offered appropriate treatment in a timely manner.
Compared to other branches of the health-care system, Manitobans with mental illness face considerable challenges: public stigma, an often complex framework of supports for mental-health care and a shortage of mental-health specialists.
There are other barriers, as well. Some treatments, such as psychiatric care, are covered by
The toll imposed on Manitobans by common mental illnesses — such as depression, anxiety and other severely limiting conditions — is heavy. That can include an inability to seek help or attempts to self-medicate through drugs or alcohol.
Mental illness affects Manitobans in all walks of life, in some cases magnifying the effects of unemployment and poverty. It can be difficult for family and friends to know how to help or advocate for their loved one to get support. And once patients have been referred to a mental-health professional and/or received a diagnosis, the wait times for getting treatment can mean the condition worsens before the person gets treatment.
According to a 2016 estimate by the
Solutions to mental-health problems aren’t a question of simply having more money for the services — though that certainly helps. Not everyone has additional insurance for mental-health services not covered by
And while a national pharmacare program would improve access to medication for those with anxiety disorders, ADHD or depression, these medication treatments are best conducted with long-term medical and therapeutic support and followup.
In
Respondents to Virgo researchers reported concerns related to individuals needing to travel outside of their communities to access services, “particularly in rural, remote and northern communities, as well as on reserves.” Several respondents also identified concerns with mental-health services being centralized in major urban centres, particularly
The report also noted there are not enough qualified clinicians to meet all the needs of those with mental-health issues in our province and that recruitment and retention of mental-health professionals were most challenging in — again — rural and remote regions.
“A significant number of positions were noted as unfilled for a considerable length of time, a factor said to influence both access (e.g. wait times) and coordination (e.g., helping clients transition),” the report read.
The average wait time to see a psychiatrist in
A residency program in
More recently, Families Minister
The province is to be commended for initiatives that target gaps in the mental health-care system, but more is needed, particularly outside of
Mental illness is not a choice, but recovery is. People who choose to recover should find
Winnipeg Free Press &