Image Credit: Piyapong Thongcharoen | Dreamstime.com

By Ashley Legassic

YOU'RE NOT ALONE

YOU’RE NOT ALONE: The difficulties suicidal people face in trying to access help

Sep 11, 2019 | 4:47 PM

KAMLOOPS — In the third part of You’re Not Alone, we take a look at the resources available for suicidal people in the Kamloops area. Sometimes it’s not a matter of available resources, but a matter of affordable services. On average, a 50-minute session with a counsellor in B.C. costs $120. According to the B.C. Psychological Association, an individual session with a psychologist costs roughly $200 per hour. In our third segment, we speak to locals who are trying to make a difference in the local mental healthcare system, B.C.’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and people affected by suicide loss who want to see changes made.

“Access to mental health care shouldn’t depend on the size of your bank account — and it does now.”

Judy Darcy is B.C.’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. It’s a ministry that was created by the NDP government after taking power with a minority government in the 2017 election.

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Darcy says one of her biggest milestones so far has been the release of “A Pathway to Hope” — the provincial government’s 10-year road map for accessing and improving mental health and substance use services.

“That includes a major, major focus on child and youth mental health, we know we need to start early, we need to start at our schools we need to start even before schools,” Darcy says. “Early identification, early intervention, prevention programs, promotion of mental health and even building into the school curriculum an understanding of mental health and addictions issues.”

A Pathway to Hope also includes the province providing $10 million in funding to agencies that provide low to no cost one-on-one counselling.

Image Credit: CFJC Today

C&C Resources for Life is a private counselling agency in Kamloops. It’s able to offer free or reduced-rate counselling services in some capacity, by using the services of Masters-level social work and clinical counsellor practicum students while being supervised by staff counsellors.

C&C also has a psychiatrist joining the team, and it’s hoped that will improve accessibility to those in need of the service.

Darcy says making services more affordable won’t happen overnight, but first steps need to be made.

“It is a gap in our mental health system and we are taking a first important step,” Darcy says. “We’re not going to fill that gap entirely but it’s a first important step for more people, thousands more people, being able to access counselling and not be turned away because they can’t afford it.”

Amy Baskin is a community educator with the Canadian Mental Health Association in Kamloops.

“In terms of wanting to talk with someone or connect with a resource, I feel like we’ve got some work to do.”

She says with gaps in the mental healthcare system, 911 is a go-to resource for a suicidal person to get immediate action.

“Unfortunately that doesn’t fast track you to psychiatric support. Going into the hospital doesn’t mean — yes it will stop the action, but if you’re at the ‘thoughts’ point, you’re not necessarily admitted,” Baskin says. “There’s massive gaps.”

Baskin says if someone is communicating that they’re at a low point in their life, the best thing loved ones, friends and coworkers can do is ask what that person needs to feel safe right now.

Image Credit: CFJC Today

Kelly Trotman’s favourite thing about her little sister Edyn is her roaring laugh.

“She was my baby sister, and I was very protective of her.”

Edyn and her son Mykel both died by suicide — leaving Trotman without her sister and nephew. Now she wants to see changes in the mental healthcare system to help save others.

Trotman believes if there was a service like a rehab centre for people suffering with depression and anxiety, Edyn could have accessed more help after Mykel’s death.

“I mean, we need that,” she says. “There’s treatment centres for substance abuse; why can’t there be the same for people with mental health issues? I mean, people are dying.”

Trotman’s mother, father and stepfather all agree an in-patient, long-term facility could have benefitted Edyn.

“I honestly think it would make a huge difference in my sister’s life,” she says. “I think she would still be here. My family’s talked about that, like before we were talking about if there was something like that we think she’d still be here. That’s what she wanted, but we couldnt find anything.”

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Evan Fitzer

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness or suicidal thoughts, there are several resources available throughout the Interior, including Kamloops Mental Health downtown.