Warning: This story contains references to mental health, suicide and sensitive subjects that may be upsetting to some readers.

A Salmon Arm woman is raising a red flag over Interior HealthB次元官网网址檚 handling of her struggles with mental health, saying sheB次元官网网址檚 one of many people falling through the cracks of a broken system.

Serene Harcus has been on leave from her job as a health-care worker since September 2019. She said she was going through a nervous breakdown at that time, with mental and physical symptoms piling up due to abuse suffered in her personal life.

B次元官网网址淚 was totally falling apart,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that she began feeling suicidal.

Her employerB次元官网网址檚 wellness coordinator encouraged her to take time off, she said, but she didnB次元官网网址檛 qualify for medical employment insurance and instead went on long-term disability benefits. After that ran out, she would need to wait five months for any more help.

The same day she decided to take time off work, Harcus went into the Canadian Mental Health Association offices needing to talk to someone because she was ready to take her own life. She said she was told that because she works for Interior Health, CMHA couldnB次元官网网址檛 help.

Harcus explained Interior Health recently switched to a new internal system in which the health authority handles its own employeesB次元官网网址� health-care needs. She said outside resources are no longer accessible to IH employees, and she wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to access CMHA services because of this.

B次元官网网址淭he wires got crossed somewhere,B次元官网网址� said Harcus. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not helping the way theyB次元官网网址檙e supposed to, with any sort of consistency, and our provider isnB次元官网网址檛 stepping up.B次元官网网址�

Dawn Dunlop, CMHAB次元官网网址檚 executive director, said while she couldnB次元官网网址檛 issue a statement specific to Harcus, she encouraged Harcus to reach out again to the organization.

B次元官网网址淣avigating the mental-health system and community resources is a very treacherous pathway and itB次元官网网址檚 not a one-size-fits-all,B次元官网网址� said Dunlop.

Lana Schultze, Interior HealthB次元官网网址檚 corporate director of workplace health and safety, also couldnB次元官网网址檛 supply a specific comment.

B次元官网网址淩egarding the contracted services from Interior HealthB次元官网网址檚 Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP) provider, the definition of eligible employees includes full-time, part-time and casual employees,B次元官网网址� reads SchultzeB次元官网网址檚 statement to the Observer.

B次元官网网址淭he services provided include confidential, professional short-term counseling services to help employees and their family members address personal or work-related concerns. Access to resources and information related to physical and mental health. Assistance is provided to help employees manage their work and personal life effectively.B次元官网网址�

Schultze also said additional counselling opportunities are provided through extended health benefits and these benefits differ depending on a number of factors, including B次元官网网址渟pecific bargaining association.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淐ommunity-based services such as the Canadian Mental Health Association are not linked to employment and as such are available to all who meet service providersB次元官网网址� criteria,B次元官网网址� Schultze said in her statement.

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In February 2020, HarcusB次元官网网址� long-term disability carrier (LTD), Canada Life Assurance, sent her to a specialist doctor in Vancouver. Harcus said there was not a treatment option she was ready for at that time.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 highly agoraphobic, absolutely broken, they fly me to Vancouver first thing in the morning, I did a four-hour intense go-through of every trauma in my entire life from birth to present day, and they flew me back the same day with no support set up for after, no nothing.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲ithin three days I tried to take my life.B次元官网网址�

Harcus said she was begging for help at this point and her LTD carrier didnB次元官网网址檛 have a counselling option for her.

Eventually, Harcus said she was offered a psychologist to see regularly and an occupational therapist, but as soon as she started getting into exposure therapy, the programs were pulled.

She said the resources sheB次元官网网址檚 contacted and the carrier for the LTD have said theyB次元官网网址檝e done all they can for her and she is at a point where she should be able to work.

Harcus said her doctor has agreed with her sheB次元官网网址檚 not at the point where she can leave the house much, let alone sustain a long-term job as a care aide, her chosen profession, so sheB次元官网网址檚 unsure what to do next.

B次元官网网址淚nterior Health has a duty to accommodate, but thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing. ItB次元官网网址檚 all just kind of a joke.B次元官网网址�

On March 17, Harcus said she received her last support payment. She is currently going through an appeals process with her union to fight the carriers, trying to receive more help.

Harcus said the paperwork for medical employment insurance, Canada Pension Plan disability, and Person with Disabilities payments have taken months. She has applied for income assistance for housing but has been denied. Service Canada has only been able to re-submit forms she has already sent and Harcus said there arenB次元官网网址檛 any avenues she hasnB次元官网网址檛 explored.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really disheartening, I just donB次元官网网址檛 even know where a person goes at this point. IB次元官网网址檝e been screaming for three years.B次元官网网址�

Harcus said she has had other care aides and health professionals empathising with her struggles and going through the same issues, posting comments on the GoFundMe she has set up to help pay bills.

B次元官网网址淚t was time to beg the community, which is humiliating and powerful at the same time, I guess. IB次元官网网址檓 admitting I canB次元官网网址檛 do this by myself. The system is broken.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in a country thatB次元官网网址檚 supposed to have these amazing resources and so many people are falling through the cracks. A person should not have to beg for their life because of mental health.B次元官网网址�

Harcus said she has been surviving on the kindness of friends and family, and collecting food bank donations and bottles to return for cash.

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rebecca.willson@saobserver.net
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