Pictou County Help Line closure 'heartbreaking' for community, volunteers

The Pictou County Help Line, the last of its kind in Nova Scotia, disconnected permanently on Tuesday.

"Yesterday was very sad. It was a very emotional day. As I've said many times, it was very bittersweet," said executive director Arlis MacCallum.

The registered non-profit group provided a listening ear to those seeking mental health care. A small full-time staff and volunteers answered phones, referring callers to resources in Nova Scotia for 33 years.

The service recently struggled to fundraise for a $60,000 administrative and training budget, MacCallum said.

"We've kept our doors open on a shoestring for several years now," she said. "It's the times." 

'It's heartbreaking'

MacCallum, who's been a volunteer in Pictou County for the last 40 years, says they heard from new callers and regulars alike on their final day. 

She spoke with one caller in crisis for over an hour — someone who'd "just fallen through all the health care cracks and the mental health cracks," she said. 

"I was speechless with him. I couldn't help him. … It gives you an idea of what we do here, or what we did here, I should say" she said.

"It's heartbreaking."

'Resigned acceptance'

The help line was a creation of the Pictou County Council of Churches. It later grew into an independent organization. Over the years, fundraising goals became harder and harder to meet. 

"The sense here is resigned acceptance," said Rev. Jim Webber-Cook, president of the Pictou County Council of Churches. "We grieve this change." 

Webber-Cook says the last five years were particularly tough.

"How do we move forward? What fills the gaps for people here? That we will continue to address this through the government," he said, adding the council has been in contact with Health Minister Leo Glavine.

"We will try to continue advocating for sufficient resources to meet the needs of people here."

Nova Scotia must 'step up'

MacCallum says she's hoping to retire. She'll return to the help line's office over the next two weeks to shut it down.

She's thankful for the county's support, but worries about the calls she's not able to answer. 

"Nova Scotia has to step up for mental health. There are lots of services out there, but there's wait times and it's the people that are in crisis that don't seem to have the necessary service at that time," she said. 

"When you're in a crisis or when you have mental health problems and you have to be sent to another part of the province and away from your loved ones, your family and support — that's just not acceptable."