Waypoint wants to help the front line.
The Penetanguishene mental health centre has launched COVID Frontline Wellness in collaboration with Ontario’s new Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence and other provincial partners as a way to help those impacted by stress related to COVID-19.
Glenn Robitaille, Waypoint’s director of ethics and spiritual care, said the program will prove especially useful to those who might be so busy helping others that their own mental health starts to suffer as a result.
“We’ve connected the resources to our intake process,” said Robitallie, who is also director of Mindability—North Simcoe/Muskoka.
“A lot are going to be affected. Right now, they have their nose to the grindstone and they’re doing what they need to do.”
And while front-line workers and first responders are used to working in critical situations, the unprecedented reality of the COVID-19 pandemic may be causing strain from long hours in a critical-care environment, wearing personal protective equipment and many other types of on-going change.
Robitaille noted that the longer the pandemic lasts, the greater impact it could have on the potential for frontline workers to develop symptoms relating to depression and anxiety with a higher risk of worsening symptoms for those with pre-existing mental health conditions.
But the program also appeals to workers seeking immediate support, who aren’t looking for long-term therapy, according to Robitaille.
Launched to coincide with Mental Health Week, all of the services, including those offered by Waypoint, are confidential, free and allow people to self-refer to a virtual clinic - making access fast and easy.
Robitaille said those in need are able to speak with a Waypoint clinician as a first start to understanding what services are available and developing a flexible plan of support.
“When something is causing disruption to one’s life, we don’t want things to become chronic,” he said. “We want people, when they need help, to get it as quickly as possible.”
The program includes partnerships with the province for online anxiety and depression treatment such as cognitive behavioural therapy, access to free counselling under the mindability program to work directly with a clinician as well as a variety of other resources and tools for psychological health and wellness.
Other challenges faced by frontline workers include physical isolation and concern about contracting COVID and bringing the virus home to families.
“We need those who are caring for us to be both physically and mentally healthy and we are pleased to offer a new direct service where you can talk with someone about your concerns and needs,” Waypoint president and CEO Carol Lambie said in a release.
“Our COVID Frontline Wellness program for health care and frontline workers offers support to enhance resilience and care and treatment for mental health and addiction challenges.”
Robitaille said that while the pandemic has created a new normal for many, it’s the frontline workers who could eventually begin feeling the full brunt of the situation in which they’ve been living.
“They will probably need some supports,” said Robitaille, noting post-traumatic stress disorder normally rears its ugly head within three months of a situation being resolved one way or another.
“Who would have thought we’d be experiencing something like this? It changes our view of the world.”
And a survey released Wednesday seems to back up the need for continued mental-health supports.
According to the survey conducted by IPSOS that studied the impact of COVID-19 on mental well-being and substance use, 45 percent of Ontarians reported their mental health has deteriorated since the pandemic began with 67 percent saying their mental-health impacts are going to be serious and lasting.
Commissioned by Addictions and Mental Health Ontario in partnership with Children's Mental Health Ontario, the survey also found that 42 percent of Ontario’s adults have increased their substance or gambling use since the pandemic started. The survey also found that three quarters of Ontarians think the province should put an equal focus on taking care of Ontarian’s mental health as physical health during COVID-19.
"Ontarians are right to feel that the impact of COVID-19 will be serious and lasting to their mental health,” Kim Moran, CEO of Children’s Mental Health Ontario, said in a release.
“I am especially concerned about the severity of mental-health experiences of Ontario’s children and youth leading into and during COVID-19. Action is needed now to support Ontario’s families. Ontario’s community mental health and addiction agencies need funding urgently for staffing, infection-control measures and long-term therapy and counseling services to ensure the recovery of Ontarians and that parents and family caregivers are able to go back to work.”
As for Waypoint, Robitaille noted the facility's traumatic incident support team is also available for staff with members available on-call throughout the day.
"We have that available on-site,” he said, adding they tend to use the shotgun approach by offering a wide variety of services and programs to help with the hope that at least one or two will find the mark. “In-house, we have mindfulness programs that are now being offered virtually."
For more information visit Waypoint.
