More mental health supports coming to Burnaby

BURNABY (NEWS 1130) – A new mental health team will be coming to Burnaby in the spring, known as an Assertive Community Treatment – or ACT for short.

There are already quite a few of these teams in our province, but the goal is to get more help to people who are struggling, according to Laura Caron, who is the director of clinical operations with Fraser Health.

“The team itself works to connect people with services that they need. It’s a multi-disciplinary team with clinicians, physicians, and housing specialists that work to help people find and maintain housing, and work on some of their mental health and substance use issues as well as general health and other needs they may have.”

A new ACT team is coming to Burnaby, bringing specialized supports to people living with severe mental health challenges. Learn more here: https://t.co/tWbwY8Kgay pic.twitter.com/LtgIhA5yaX

— Fraser Health (@Fraserhealth) December 30, 2020

The plan to add six new ACT teams throughout the province was announced in September. Caron says all kinds of assistance will be offered to outpatients struggling to cope day-to-day.

“This has been a challenging year for everyone and there are big needs right now,” says Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson in a release. “People need options and they need our compassion. Continuing to build a mental health care system that works for everyone is a priority and expanding Assertive Community Treatment teams helps to connect people with the vital services they need.”

RELATED: ‘Such despair they can’t see past it’: Pandemic-driven mental health crises on the rise in Canada

Whether assistance is something seemingly simple or complex, Caron says the team is ready to help with housing needs and accessing medical care, substance-use counselling and treatment, life skills supports, medication deliveries, grocery shopping, and more.

“They get out into the community and they’re active in their engagement with these individuals. They’re bringing a service to the people where they are. They’ll meet them in the community, they’ll meet them in libraries, they’ll meet them in their homes, wherever they’re at. These clinicians will go there, and wrap around the individuals to provide them with the supports that they need to succeed.”

Caron says it’s important to have these kinds of supports in place for those struggling w/their mental health. She says the team will get out into the community and meet its outpatients pretty much anywhere. They can get assistance finding housing, shopping for groceries & more.

— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) January 1, 2021

Caron admits there is still plenty of work to be done when it comes to addressing challenges around mental health, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is still work to be done, especially around the stigma, and breaking down stigma and making it okay for people to reach out for help, and to not wait until they reach out for help. There’s lots of opportunity with the mental health spectrum of services to intervene with at the first signs.”

To date, a total of 28 ACT teams have been announced in communities throughout B.C. There are currently five serving Abbotsford, Maple Ridge, Mission, New Westminster, North Delta, Surrey, and the Tri-Cities.

In Burnaby’, 12 clinical staff and an administrator will be hired for the new ACT team and recruitment for the rest of the group continues.