Mike Northcott, chief human resource officer with Saskatchewan Health Authority, spoke at a media conference Friday officially announcing the launch of the Community Recovery Team, which helps mental health-related supports in the community. (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Community Health

Community Recovery Team provides mental health assistance in P.A.

Mar 15, 2019 | 1:14 PM

People in Prince Albert who are dealing with serious mental health challenges have another resource available to them.

Prince Albert, along with seven other communities in Saskatchewan, are now home to the Community Recovery Team (CRT). The team’s seven spots include a social worker, addictions worker, community mental health nurse and a team lead.

Carolyn Vandyck who is the team leader in P.A., told paNOW there are a number of advantages to the service.

“It’s kind of interesting to see how people respond when you’re in their home, or even if you pick them up for a ride; it’s so much easier to have a conversation, when they’re just sitting in the vehicle beside you, it’s a different dynamic,” she said.

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Along with being more accessible to the people who need treatment, Vandyck explained trips to visit someone in need of services assists the workers.

“To meet them at their home, to meet them where they’re at, you can see where they live and that will also tell us, you know, what is going well and what is going not so well for them,” she said.

Melfort MLA Todd Goudy was at the media conference Friday and spoke about the importance of mental health care. (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

Prince Albert’s Community Recovery Team started late December. The team is currently waiting to staff an occupational therapist.

Since starting, Vandyck said the CRT is mostly focused on doing work in the city, but received requests from the surrounding area.

“We will be going to Shellbrook, but for now we said we will not go much further,” she said.

The CRT has connections with community mental health nurses in the city, which is where a number of clients come from. Family doctors and emergency room personnel also refer patients to the team.

Overall, Vandyck said one of the major goals is to make sure people who are in need of services get them before major intervention is needed.

“The idea is to prevent admission to the [psychiatric] ward or to the ER, to provide the services in the community,” she said.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn