Sask. NDP wants to streamline how people get mental health, addictions support

The Saskatchewan NDP is calling for staff with expertise in the fields of mental health and addictions to be placed in Saskatchewan Emergency Rooms to help take pressure off ER doctors and reduce ER wait times.

On Thursday, Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili made the case for getting people the proper supports around mental health and addictions when they present at the hospital, allowing them to get the help they need sooner while allowing doctors in the ER to focus on patients suffering physical injuries. 

"The emergency docs we have today, they deal with this all the time, and they're very good, but it still is a specialized skill set," he said. "Having emergency mental healthcare and a clearer track to the appropriate in-community, in-patient psychiatrics or addictions care would make a lot of sense."

In May, Saskatchewan's Health Minister Jim Reiter said addictions was a factor in why patients are facing long wait times at Saskatchewan emergency rooms.

Drugs a factor in ERs 

The average ER wait time in Prince Albert was about 3.1 hours, 2.8 hours in Saskatoon and 5.3 hours in Regina. Meanwhile, the average wait in the Lloydminster and North Battleford areas was about 2.9 hours.

"Clearly it's too long and we need to do better," Reiter said in May. 

In a statement, the province said it's making progress on the Saskatchewan Poverty Reduction Strategy and has also launched the Saskatchewan Income Support Program, which "will focus on helping people overcome their challenges and move to employment or participation in their communities to the best of their abilities."
 

"We have been collaborating with the SHA on addressing withdrawal management, detoxification and treatment including reducing gaps in transition points between services and educating health care and allied professionals about the complexities associated with meth use and evidence-based interventions."

CMHA says idea should be examined

Faith Bodnar, the executive director of the Saskatoon Mental Health Association said the idea of having mental health and addictions care in emergency rooms would be beneficial for those in crisis.

"It's a really good thing to investigate into and to look into," said Bodnar. "Because we know that many people present at the emergency room and emergency departments aren't always equipped to deal with the many numbers of people that come in, never mind those with addictions and mental health issues." 

She said she'd like to see all doctors trained in mental health and addictions, but she feels there is a place for specialists in the ER who can "triage really quickly" patients with mental health or addictions issues.

"I think it would streamline the system better and it would get people to places that can serve them," she said. "Legitimately, they may need to be in the ER for a while, but they need to get to the right place when they're done and not just be discharged from the hospital all together." 

Bodnar said this could help reduce the amount of repeat visits for patients, because they could be guided to the proper supports, as opposed to being discharged without a plan. 

She pointed to successes within the city's housing first program, noting once they got individuals in the program and into secure housing, their emergency room visits dropped substantially. 

"It's not just the presenting issues, it's the underlying issues that have led them there as well."

At a press conference earlier this week, Saskatoon Police Chief Troy Cooper said meth has been a driving factor in property crimes in the city, but noted it's taking its toll on officers and other agencies as well. 

"We know that people who are consuming illicit drugs often have mental health issues and our officers are first to respond to those sorts of offences as well," he said. "And so it's taxing us, it's taxing some of our partner agencies, like the health region as well."

Crystal methamphetamine — which is cheap, easy to acquire and incredibly difficult to quit — now accounts for more than 30 per cent of people seeking addiction treatment in Saskatchewan.