N.W.T. mental health workers concerned COVID-19 could limit access to services

When the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Camp in Yellowknife, N.W.T., decided to pause operations, counsellor William Greenland thought of the people who come to the space for a "safe place to be."

The wellness camp has been a powerful space for Indigneous healing after two years in operation but is temporarily closing to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Greenland said it was a hard decision, but the safety of staff and community members has to come first, so now he and other counsellors are available by phone.

"It's difficult to sit at home," said Greenland. "We want to make sure our people are doing OK with whatever is happening for them in their lives."

Mental health care providers in the North are switchingto online or phone services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yet, some counsellors in the territory are concerned that these changes could drastically affect access to mental health services.

Social worker Raymond Pidzamecky said it's "impossible" for mental health professionals to be working at full capacity whileeveryone is self-isolated at home.

"A lot of people aren't as comfortable or able to utilize telephone counselling," Pidzameckysaid.

Pidzamecky has receiveddozens of messages from people across the North from Fort Simpson, N.W.T., to Rankin Inlet, Nunavut worried about their mental health during thepandemic.

"They're telling me they have anxiety and they're finding it difficult to cope," Pidzamecky said.

This week, he posted a 27-page self-help strategy on several community Facebook pages that includes tips on how to move past an anxiety attack.

Pidzameckysaid he hopes posting advice on social media will help ease people's fears.

For people without computer or fast internet, none of the online options are relevant.- Anneka Westergreen, social worker at Fireweed Counselling

CBC contacted the territory's Department of Health to find out if any additional mental health supports will be provided during the pandemic but did not receive a reply by Friday evening.

Addiction relapsepossible

Wilfred Simon, a wellness and addictions counsellor in Fort Resolution, N.W.T.,got a call from a client earlier this week who seemed to have relapsed into her addiction.

Simonsaid his clientwanted to go for addictions treatment but can't travel to a facility because of COVID-19. (The territory does not have anyaddictionstreatment centresand people are referred to centres in Alberta or British Columbia.)

Simon said he worries that more of his clients could relapse during the pandemic.

"Say we get quarantined for two months it affects you mentally, physically and emotionally," Simon said, adding "none of us are used to this."

Anneka Westergreen, a social worker at Fireweed Counselling, said she wonders what services will be provided to those with addictions outside of Yellowknife.

"There are someonline [Alcoholics Anonymous] groups, but ... for people without computer or fast Internet, none of the online options are relevant," she wrote in an email.

Indigenous people could be more at risk

Those in small primarily-Indigenous communities could be more vulnerable to poor mental health, Pidzamecky said, because they don't have the same access to healthcare services as those inmajor regional centres.

The coronavirus could also re-awaken feelings of being unsafethat Indigenous people could have experienced in residential school, Pidzamecky said.

Be isolated, but don't be alone- Raymond Pidzamecky, social worker

"When those emotionsare moving through communities, it can re-trigger people," Pidzamekcysaid.

Simon and Westergreen said that Indigenous people should go out on the land, if possible, to help maintain their mental health.

'Be isolated but don't be alone'

Social worker Pidzamecky recommends those struggling with mental health issues limit their news and social media intake during the pandemic, and forpeople to reach out more often to their loved ones.

"Be isolated but don't be alone," he said.

Pidzamecky said he hopes the government will create a targeted mental health response.

Earlier this year, the territorial government launched a non-emergency mental health coaching service by phone.

The NWT Help Line is another resource available 24/7 for residents.