Warning: This story contains references to mental health, suicide and sensitive subjects that may be upsetting to some readers.
A Salmon Arm woman is raising a red flag over Interior Health香蕉视频直播檚 handling of her struggles with mental health, saying she香蕉视频直播檚 one of many people falling through the cracks of a broken system.
Serene Harcus has been on leave from her job as a health-care worker since September 2019. She said she was going through a nervous breakdown at that time, with mental and physical symptoms piling up due to abuse suffered in her personal life.
香蕉视频直播淚 was totally falling apart,香蕉视频直播� she said, adding that she began feeling suicidal.
Her employer香蕉视频直播檚 wellness coordinator encouraged her to take time off, she said, but she didn香蕉视频直播檛 qualify for medical employment insurance and instead went on long-term disability benefits. After that ran out, she would need to wait five months for any more help.
The same day she decided to take time off work, Harcus went into the Canadian Mental Health Association offices needing to talk to someone because she was ready to take her own life. She said she was told that because she works for Interior Health, CMHA couldn香蕉视频直播檛 help.
Harcus explained Interior Health recently switched to a new internal system in which the health authority handles its own employees香蕉视频直播� health-care needs. She said outside resources are no longer accessible to IH employees, and she wasn香蕉视频直播檛 able to access CMHA services because of this.
香蕉视频直播淭he wires got crossed somewhere,香蕉视频直播� said Harcus. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e not helping the way they香蕉视频直播檙e supposed to, with any sort of consistency, and our provider isn香蕉视频直播檛 stepping up.香蕉视频直播�
Dawn Dunlop, CMHA香蕉视频直播檚 executive director, said while she couldn香蕉视频直播檛 issue a statement specific to Harcus, she encouraged Harcus to reach out again to the organization.
香蕉视频直播淣avigating the mental-health system and community resources is a very treacherous pathway and it香蕉视频直播檚 not a one-size-fits-all,香蕉视频直播� said Dunlop.
Lana Schultze, Interior Health香蕉视频直播檚 corporate director of workplace health and safety, also couldn香蕉视频直播檛 supply a specific comment.
香蕉视频直播淩egarding the contracted services from Interior Health香蕉视频直播檚 Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP) provider, the definition of eligible employees includes full-time, part-time and casual employees,香蕉视频直播� reads Schultze香蕉视频直播檚 statement to the Observer.
香蕉视频直播淭he services provided include confidential, professional short-term counseling services to help employees and their family members address personal or work-related concerns. Access to resources and information related to physical and mental health. Assistance is provided to help employees manage their work and personal life effectively.香蕉视频直播�
Schultze also said additional counselling opportunities are provided through extended health benefits and these benefits differ depending on a number of factors, including 香蕉视频直播渟pecific bargaining association.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淐ommunity-based services such as the Canadian Mental Health Association are not linked to employment and as such are available to all who meet service providers香蕉视频直播� criteria,香蕉视频直播� Schultze said in her statement.
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In February 2020, Harcus香蕉视频直播� long-term disability carrier (LTD), Canada Life Assurance, sent her to a specialist doctor in Vancouver. Harcus said there was not a treatment option she was ready for at that time.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 highly agoraphobic, absolutely broken, they fly me to Vancouver first thing in the morning, I did a four-hour intense go-through of every trauma in my entire life from birth to present day, and they flew me back the same day with no support set up for after, no nothing.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲ithin three days I tried to take my life.香蕉视频直播�
Harcus said she was begging for help at this point and her LTD carrier didn香蕉视频直播檛 have a counselling option for her.
Eventually, Harcus said she was offered a psychologist to see regularly and an occupational therapist, but as soon as she started getting into exposure therapy, the programs were pulled.
She said the resources she香蕉视频直播檚 contacted and the carrier for the LTD have said they香蕉视频直播檝e done all they can for her and she is at a point where she should be able to work.
Harcus said her doctor has agreed with her she香蕉视频直播檚 not at the point where she can leave the house much, let alone sustain a long-term job as a care aide, her chosen profession, so she香蕉视频直播檚 unsure what to do next.
香蕉视频直播淚nterior Health has a duty to accommodate, but there香蕉视频直播檚 nothing. It香蕉视频直播檚 all just kind of a joke.香蕉视频直播�
On March 17, Harcus said she received her last support payment. She is currently going through an appeals process with her union to fight the carriers, trying to receive more help.
Harcus said the paperwork for medical employment insurance, Canada Pension Plan disability, and Person with Disabilities payments have taken months. She has applied for income assistance for housing but has been denied. Service Canada has only been able to re-submit forms she has already sent and Harcus said there aren香蕉视频直播檛 any avenues she hasn香蕉视频直播檛 explored.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really disheartening, I just don香蕉视频直播檛 even know where a person goes at this point. I香蕉视频直播檝e been screaming for three years.香蕉视频直播�
Harcus said she has had other care aides and health professionals empathising with her struggles and going through the same issues, posting comments on the GoFundMe she has set up to help pay bills.
香蕉视频直播淚t was time to beg the community, which is humiliating and powerful at the same time, I guess. I香蕉视频直播檓 admitting I can香蕉视频直播檛 do this by myself. The system is broken.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e in a country that香蕉视频直播檚 supposed to have these amazing resources and so many people are falling through the cracks. A person should not have to beg for their life because of mental health.香蕉视频直播�
Harcus said she has been surviving on the kindness of friends and family, and collecting food bank donations and bottles to return for cash.
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rebecca.willson@saobserver.net
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