Northern Health To Take Mental Health Tour

By 250 News

Northern Health is still putting the final touches on its plan to visit 19 communities to talk about mental health issues.  Mental health is the one area of service delivery which Northern Health has heard, needs a boost.

Currently,  many who suffer from addictions or mental illness show up at their local emergency departments for treatment,  Northern Health CEO Malcolm Maxwell says renovations are underway in many of the facilities throughout the north to create space for physicians, nurses and addictions  staff to  assist those who show up at the local ER. That will not only better serve the patients, but should  take some pressure off the emergency rooms.

He says there are also some efforts to work out an "on call" arrangement with trained professionals in comunities, as well as establish links with larger facilities. 

The tour will be a re-visit of a tour that took place two years ago.   During that round,  people told Northern Health there were some gaps that needed filling. 

Maxwell says this time there are two objectives,  "We want to report back and tell the people here's what you told us two years ago,  we've actually paid attention and here's what we've done about it and now we want to know  what you think.  The second part  is that we've been consistently told that more services in the areas of addictions and mental health are a priority for northerners.  We want to hear from people, present some ideas, and try to make sure the programs and services we are planning are aligned with what our communities are telling us is important."

At this point  it would appear the  tour will take place in late May so as not to cause confusion or conflict with the Conversations on Health.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us