Mental health and addiction experts are condemning the federal government’s decision to shut down online services that have provided free counseling and peer support for the past four years.
Health Canada announced in February that funding for the Wellness Together Canada website and PocketWell app would cease on April 3.
The service will end at 11:59pm EDT on Wednesday, despite a public plea from a coalition of 18 mental health and addiction organizations for the government to reconsider.
“We know that tens of thousands, if not millions, of Canadians need mental health and substance use health support, and that has only worsened as a result of the pandemic. ” said Sarah Kennel, National Director of Public Policy, Government of Canada. The Canadian Mental Health Association is one of her alliance members.
Economic insecurity and anxiety about issues such as climate change are also causing mental distress, and people need free access to help now more than ever, Kennel said.
“One of the main barriers[people]cite when explaining why they can’t get the care they need is cost,” she says.
Because counseling, psychotherapy, and addiction treatment are typically provided in the private sector, people must either pay out of pocket for treatment or have private insurance, which often only covers a limited range of treatments, she said. said.
“So Wellness Together really filled the gap. It’s free. It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to anyone in the country who wants help,” Kennell said.
Program launched at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic
Health Canada launched this program on April 15, 2020 in response to the toll the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is taking on people’s mental health. The website and app connected people with peer support workers, social workers, psychologists, and other professionals, offering virtual care, chat sessions, and phone calls. We also provided information and resources regarding mental health and substance use.
Several mental health agencies, including Kids Help Phone, Homewood Health and Stepped Care Solutions, have been contracted by the government to provide counseling and support through Wellness Together Canada.
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But now that the pandemic “state of emergency” is over, those “extraordinary” measures are over and it’s time for the provinces and territories to take over from Mental Health Minister Yaara Sachs. He is an addict, he said in an email statement Tuesday.
“States and territories are best positioned to support the mental health and substance use needs of their communities by integrating these services across their systems of care,” the statement said, adding that mental health It noted that this is one of the “shared priorities” of recent bilateral agreements. Funding Agreement.
But Anthony Esposti, CEO of CAPSA, another organization that tackles stigma around substance use disorders and provides peer support, said the program offers It said there was “no evidence” it was taking action to replace the free and accessible service. member of the alliance.
“In many cases, mental health and substance use medical costs are transferred to local areas and absorbed into the physical health system,” Esposti said.
With funding from Wellness Together Canada, CAPSA was able to increase its online group support sessions from two to 12 a week, he said.
“We’ve received a lot of letters from people who rely on this service saying it’s more than unfortunate, it’s dangerous to take this away,” Esposti said.
Replacement items ‘woefully inadequate’
Since February, when CAPSA learned that the Wellness Together program would be ending, CAPSA has been scrambling to find other funding sources. He said he wouldn’t be able to continue doing 12 sessions a week, but could manage seven sessions.
In addition to the funding component, Wellness Together Canada provided a “one-stop shop” for people in need of mental health support, no matter where they live in Canada, Esposti said.
This, he said, is “of great value to people” who would otherwise be struggling to navigate “a very confusing and fragmented system.”
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According to information posted on the site, more than 4 million people have used Wellness Together since its launch.
Anyone who accesses the Wellness Together Canada webpage after the closure will find links to the key mental health resources they were accessing through the WTC portal, such as the Kids Help Phone. remains available,” the group said in a statement. said the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
“Canadians will now have access to other important information about mental health resources, supports and services, including those available in their home provinces and territories, at www.canada.ca/mental-health.” says the statement.
But the site requires users to take multiple steps when searching, which Kennel said is an unacceptable barrier.
“Frankly, I think it’s shameful to direct people to canada.ca/mental health. I think it’s grossly inappropriate,” she said.
“To tell them they have to go on a government website and dig through three or four layers to find something free shows that we are not doing enough to meet their needs. I think it just shows that Canadians really have failed.”
where can i get help
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call or text 988. Support is available 24/7.
Kids Help Phone continues to provide free support and resources 24/7. Phone number 1-800-668-6868. Children and youth can text him to 686868 and adults to 741741.
The Hope for Wellness Help Line is available to First Nations, Inuit and Métis people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-855-242-3310 or online chat at Hopeforwellness.ca.
The Canadian Mental Health Association offers a free coaching program called BounceBack to help youth and adults aged 15 and older manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress and worry. Visit cmha.ca/bounce-back/.
Additional locations for support can be found at www.canada.ca/mental-health.
