A new Community Recovery Team (CRT) has been launched in Prince Albert, Sask., to help people facing complex mental health challenges.
CRTs use a holistic, team-based approach to provide clients with access to intensive supports in order to help manage symptoms, achieve their goals, and avoid hospitalization.
A social worker, addictions counsellor, occupational therapist, and three mental health nurses make up the seven-person team.
“Given the high service needs, including an elevated level of emergency psychiatric service for the target CRT population, one of the unique aspects of the Prince Albert team is the touch down services being provided in the local hospital’s emergency department,” Mike Northcott, chief human resource officer with Saskatchewan Health Authority, said in a press release.
“Working collaboratively with our acute care partners, the community mental health nurses assertively engage, assess and develop care plans with mental health and addictions clients, as well as, enhance transitional care between acute and community-based programs all through the lens of flexible, client-centred care.”
The Saskatchewan government is providing $4.2 million in targeted funding to launch CRTs in eight communities across the province.
The funding comes from the Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Funding Agreement.
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If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, resources are available. In case of an emergency, please call 911 for immediate help.
The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, Depression Hurts and Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 all offer ways of getting help if you, or someone you know, may be suffering from mental health issues.