Financial pinch taking toll on mental health in Labrador West

Tough economic times in western Labrador are affecting more than finances they're taking a toll on mental health as well.

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Allan Pilgrim was a truck driver at Wabush Mines and later became a railway conductor before getting laid off when the mine shut down.

After 10 years of working at the mine, hesaid the last two years have been difficult.

There's been some moments that there's disagreements and arguments and stuff like that, and the kids are taking it hard.- Allan Pilgrim

"It's been a struggle. There's been times when I've been off for two or three months at a time, and falling behind on stuff, and then you're fortunate. and you get another job and try to get caught back up," he said.

"It's pretty rough."

Pilgrim now has a job working at Muskrat Falls, but the financial uncertainty andmoving from job to job has taken a toll on his wife and children.

"There's been some moments that there's disagreements and arguments and stuff like that, and the kids are taking it hard, because where I'm gone," he said.

Pilgrim said he's not the only one in Labrador West going through that struggle.

Women's Centre seeing more clients

Noreen Careen, executive director of Labrador West Status of Women Council, said that the Women's Centre in western Labrador has seen more clients who have lost their jobs, or are struggling to pay the bills.

Increase in need

9 years ago

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Noreen Careen of the Labrador West Status of Women says more women are turning to the women's centre for help.

"We're seeing families coming in going through foreclosures with their home. We're seeing women that have lost their jobs, we're seeing families that are struggling these days just to make ends meet," she said.

Careen said the centre has added about 15 new clients in the last year, a significant increase.

She said the stress of financial trouble can lead to family issues.

"When anyone is thrown out of their regular routine, it impacts the whole family life, so, you see things like domestic violence," Careen said

Health services available

In a statement to CBC News, Labrador-Grenfell Health said that it is committed to supporting those dealing with issues of mental health.

It said there are 13 mental health and addictions staff at the Labrador West Health Centre, including social workers and psychiatric nurses.

The health authority said urgent casescan be immediately connected to tele-psychiatry services through Eastern Health. Non-urgent clients can be seen by one of seven psychiatrists that visit the region on a regular basis.

As for how long it could take to see one of those psychiatrists, Labrador-Grenfell Health said that average wait times for patients who are referred by a physician to a psychiatrist, and who are not deemed as urgent, is two to three months.