(File photo/paNOW staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Rapid Access Counselling

Catholic Family Services urging public to use free mental health service

Jul 19, 2021 | 4:52 PM

Family Service Saskatchewan has been improving access to Rapid Access Counseling in the province. However, those involved believe enough people haven’t utilized the free service.

Since June, they’ve offered the service through a website to make it easier for Saskatchewan residents to get quick access to mental health services when they need it for mental health issues such as stress, depression, family issues and other urgent needs.

Rapid Access Counselling has been available in 23 communities in the province since 2019, including Prince Albert.

Executive director of Catholic Family Services Louise Zurowski said they’re going into their second year of providing the service. She said there is a need for it but because of the COVID-19 pandemic it made it more challenging to offer. Michael Dupont is on staff at the Catholic Family Services in Prince Albert.

“Michael is busy, but I think it could be busier in terms of people knowing about it and accessing it,” Zurowski said.

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Those interested can either request a session either virtually or in-person on Counsellingconnectsask.ca or contact Catholic Family Services either over the phone or in-person. In Prince Albert, availability all depends on the Dupont’s schedule.

“It’s for people like, ’okay, I’m in crisis at the moment’ and sometimes all people need to do is have one or two sessions to help them walk through that,” she said. “They might be panicking, or they might be going through a great deal of stress or they’re having issues at home with their kids.

“There’s absolutely no cost to this at all, so when you need to speak to somebody, pick up the phone and give us a call,” she explained. “There’s a variety of ways that we can help people with mental health situations and especially this summer there’s been a lot of things added to people’s plate and we’re here to help,” she said.

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Ian.Gustafson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @IanGustafson12