A woman from northern Saskatchewan said she tried to get mental health care help for her son – and the experience was “appalling.”
Alison Akert Rogers lives in Creighton, next to the Manitoba border. She said her son Justin Hillier, 22, was addicted for six years, but now he is recovering.
Recently, he admitted he needed help with his mental health – a big step for anyone.
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Akert Rogers called the Saskatoon Health Region, and based on what she was told, she and Justin and his four-year-old daughter drove five hours from Creighton to Royal University Hospital.
On Tuesday, Nov. 15, they went in about 10:30 a.m. Justin was first seen by a general practitioner, which is normal.
But then, she said, they waited until about 10 p.m. that evening before he was assessed by a psychiatrist.
“He held his own,” she said, “but it was frustrating. It was myself, him, and his four-year-old daughter that was stuck in the emergency unit for approximately 13 hours.”
She said her son was kept in a room in emergency until the following afternoon – more than 24 hours after he first arrived – when he was admitted to the Dube Centre, which offers mental health care.
However, they were soon told Justin would be transferred to the psychiatric unit at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.
By this time Akert Rogers was already driving back to Creighton, but she tried lobbying to have her son stay at the Dube Centre. But by Friday morning he was sent to Prince Albert.
When he got there, she said, he spent another five hours in emergency, and then the assessment process started again, which meant he was explaining again why he was asking for help.
“It’s very frustrating,” she said. “You have to explain your story many more times than just once.”
“You’re definitely not always greeted with an understanding ear.”
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She said Justin was discharged on Wednesday. He was seen by an addictions worker, but other than that not much had happened.
“No treatment plan, no psychiatrist’s care,” she said.
Another headache, she said, was that there was no bus back to Creighton until the following day. There was a scramble to find him a place to stay, until a relative was able to give Justin a ride back to Creighton.
She said he is now on a seven week waiting list for treatment, back home in Creighton.
It’s left her with a bitter taste.
“I think it’s very sad, we are definitely lacking services, we are lacking services up here where we are….to be told one thing, then to be treated the way we were, with a long extended waiting time….the care is just appalling,” she said.
“It’s just not there, it’s sad for those who want help.”
“It’s very discouraging, we’re at a crucial time because if he doesn’t get the help he needs, and he ends up relapsing, it’s life and death.”
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Global News contacted the Saskatoon Health Region about the case.
Tracy Muggli, head of addictions and mental health, said she couldn’t discuss specifics of the case.
She did indicate their experience is not typical. She said after a patient is seen by a doctor, it’s usually only a few hours before they are assessed by a psychiatrist – although there are occasions when the wait is longer.
However, she said the health region has put a lot of work into improving community based care, and has a mental health transitions team available on evenings and weekends.
She said they’ve also put a lot of work into making programs more efficient so they are better able to serve people.
However, Muggli added that there does appear to be a growing demand for mental health and addictions services, and there are times when the demand is a challenge.
She added anyone looking for information about what services are available can call 306-655-7777.
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