Darryl Firth has seen first-hand how talking helps when it comes to mental illness.
Firth and other members of Mobile Crisis Services are there to answer the call whenever someone in Saskatchewan is struggling with mental health issues. Depression; suicidal thoughts; dementia – Firth and his fellow staff deal with it all over the phone on a daily basis.
Sometimes, they have to intervene.
“I’ve had a number of situations where there have been clients who have absolutely made it clear that their intent is to end their life if they don’t get help,” said Firth.
“Them calling us or them reaching out to us is a good sign because they want that help.”
Anecdotally, Firth has noticed an increase in calls from people suffering from mental illness in Regina and surrounding areas over his more than 14 years with Mobile Crisis.
Government statistics show regional health authorities provided mental health services to about 31,000 people across the province in the 2013-14 fiscal year. Of those, 18,000 were new clients.
But those figures only represent cases in which mental health issues have come to light. Recent statistics suggest as many as one third of Canadians afflicted by mental illness don’t get the help they need, and two thirds are suffering in the shadows.
“They’re holding it together and eventually, something is going to burst. That’s usually what happens, they hold it in and hold it in and they’re maybe releasing it in very negative ways,” said Kevin Huber, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Regina branch.
“It’s not unusual for many people with mental issues that come through our doors to have an addiction issue, as well. But that’s not the case for everybody. Some people, they’re just white-knuckling it.”
It doesn’t help that Saskatchewan has fewer psychiatrists per capita than other provinces in Western Canada. According to the province’s Medical Services Branch, there were only 96 licenced psychiatrists practicing in Saskatchewan as of the end of March 2014. That number represents an 11 per cent increase since 2007.
“We recognize that we do have fewer psychiatrists per capita than some of the other provinces, so we’ve taken some steps to increase that number,” said Ingrid Kirby, a director at the Medical Services Branch.
Those steps include boosting the number of residency training seats for psychiatrists to six from four. The government also provided funding in 2010 that allowed psychiatrists to receive their training in Regina. Previously, such training was only available in Saskatoon.
“We want to grow our own psychiatrists,” said Kirby. “They’re more likely to stay in the long term if they’re from the province and they take the training here.”
Although progress is being made on the psychiatrist front in Saskatchewan, such gains will continue to be gradual, considering that it takes five years to complete post-graduate training in psychiatry. The CMHA estimates that those suffering from mental illness in the province currently must wait anywhere from three to six months to see a psychiatrist.
“Talking with different clients, there’s often frustration over the amount of access they have to a psychiatrist,” said Firth.
“Their appointments are few and far between; they don’t last very long; they don’t feel that they get enough quality time to work with somebody. So, that definitely indicates a shortage of bodies in that field.”
However, a lack of resources isn’t the only hurdle people with mental illness face when it comes to getting the help they need. Another significant barrier is the stigma surrounding mental health issues, which causes many to suffer in silence.
“They hear the statistics but they still think they’re fighting this illness by themselves,” said Huber.
“Many of our members that come here every day are very seriously ill. But you know what, they have courage because they stepped out of the shadows and they are managing their illness with a lot of confidence.
“Unfortunately, they’re the ones that usually get the brunt of the stereotypes and stigma from people that really lack education and understanding of what’s really happening with them.”
That stigma is rooted in historical attitudes toward mental health issues. Huber recalls a time early in his career when people suffering from mental illness wouldn’t come forward for fear of being put into a straightjacket. He says psychiatrists were commonly referred to as “shrinks” or “head doctors,” and the medication they prescribed to patients was called “bug juice,” even by those taking it.
“Now, we’re beginning to realize and acknowledge that it’s a legitimate illness and it affects people in the same way as cancer,” said Huber.
“There isn’t one type of cancer, there are many kinds of cancer. Well, mental illness is the same thing – there are different levels of mental illness.”
While mental health issues still remain shrouded by stigma in 2015, both Huber and Firth agree that education and awareness campaigns, such as Bell Let’s Talk Day, are making a difference by lifting the veil of silence surrounding mental illness.
“I think talking brings the situation out in the open – it allows for a person to not have to carry that burden anymore,” said Firth.
“It provides them an outlet to talk and get out their stress and frustration, and have a supportive ear that’s going to have the knowledge to get them the help they need.”
To continue the conversation and learn more about mental health, follow the links below. These sites will connect users to information on mental health and suicide prevention.
Saskatchewan resources
Mobile Crisis Services
• 306-757-0127
Canadian Mental Health Association Saskatchewan
• 306-525-5601
National resources
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
• 204-784-4073
Canadian Mental Health Association
• cmha.ca/
Kids Help Phone
• 1-800-668-6868
Anxiety Panic Support (List of Resources by country)
• anxietypanicsupport.com/crisis.php
National Suicide prevention Lifeline
• suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
• 1-800-273-TALK
Honouring Life
Mental Health Commission of Canada
The Mood Disorders Society of Canada
Collateral Damage
Your Life Counts
The Jack Project
