Beginning on April 13, the Moose Jaw branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association will have an open phone line for anyone struggling with their mental health due to COVID-19 anxieties.
The Emergency Wellness Response Line is a new helpline that the CMHA is implementing all across the province, to offer mental health support and resources to those who are feeling the negative effects of the pandemic right now.
“There's a lot of research that during pandemics like this, like the Spanish flu and SARS that's happened in the past, that a lot of Canadians displayed symptoms of depression and PTSD, because of everything that's going on in their lives, and that people who have pre-existing issues may become more vulnerable during these negative times,” said Moose Jaw program director Nema Atsu.
The current pandemic is likely causing stress in many individuals and isolation can be very hard on people, said Atsu, which is why the CMHA has decided to offer another means of connection with mental health supports while CMHA centres are closed right now.
“It's our way of supporting our community, because we usually meet people in person but right now we're not able to,” said Atsu. “We just want to offer our services and help the people who may be feeling isolated around this time, or may be experiencing an increase in mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Each branch of the CMHA is opening their own local line, meaning Moose Jaw and area can call the local line at 1 (306) 630-5968 and speak with staff from the Moose Jaw branch of the CMHA.
The helpline is not necessarily a crisis line, said Atsu. Staff will be available to talk about mental health concerns or offer information about local resources like the Food Bank, or to offer advice in dealing with rising anxiety or depression caused by isolation.
The CMHA is also encouraging youth aged 12-19 to consider using the Provincial Youth Line at 1 (306) 730-5900 to talk about mental health at this time.
The local helpline is open to anyone, said Atsu, and she encourages anyone experiencing negative effects on their mental health due to COVID-19 to reach out.
The Emergency Wellness Response Line is available Monday to Friday during the day. It will be monitored by local CMHA staff, and Moose Jaw residents are encouraged to leave a message or call back if the line is busy when they reach out.
Atsu stressed the importance of seeking support during times of strain, especially when dealing with mental wellbeing, and encouraged anyone experiencing distress to call the CMHA helpline or reach out to a loved one.
