MAHC SOCIAL WORKER CAN GIVE ‘IMMEDIATE’ HELP TO ALL PATIENTS GOING TO HOSPITAL ER WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — Emergency hospital visits are alone traumatic enough.
And since November all patients in Muskoka attending ER with mental health challenges can receive the “immediate” help of a social worker.
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) has invested in mental health care through a “Mental Health Navigator” who provides “immediate support to patients” in need at both Muskoka emergency departments.
Desiree Reisenburg, a Registered Social Worker with more than 13 years of mental health and addiction experience, has been involved in nearly 200 patient interactions at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge and Huntsville District Memorial Hospital since commencing her role in November.
This is a totally different role from MAHC’S Indigenous Patient Navigator, which the hospitals shared a couple months ago.
Together with its partners, MAHC is recognizing National Mental Health Awareness Week during May 1-7 as the medical crisis increases country-wide.
“Mental health is an important component of overall health and wellness and we recognize the growing need for mental health supports in our community especially since the COVID-19 pandemic,” president and CEO Cheryl Harrison says in a release today announcing its latest program.
MAHC ERs are here for people experiencing mental health crisis and coordinates transfer of patients to facilities that provide inpatient mental health care, she says.
“This role is an opportunity to enhance in-the-moment supportive care with early intervention for those most in need. The Mental Health Navigator also develops discharge care plans to connect patients with community-based resources for safely returning home, including referrals to Canadian Mental Health Association Muskoka-Parry Sound.”
Diane Brown-Demarco, executive director at Canadian Mental Health Association Muskoka-Parry Sound adds she is excited with the investments of new resources in the community.
“We continue to work in close partnership with MAHC to ensure we build capacity to meet the mental health and addictions needs of individuals we serve,” says Brown-Demarco.
Since introducing the Mental Health Navigator role, first responder partners in Muskoka are also lending voices of support to improvements to holistic mental health care.
“In our communities people who are suffering often call on the police to help,” says OPP Constable Samantha Bigley. “Police officers attend and spend a good deal of time talking with those people and that is a conversation that often ends with a trip to the hospital. Knowing that our local hospitals have a Mental Health Navigator on the team gives officers confidence in making the decision, knowing that the person will be cared for and will have their needs met. The navigator makes the transition smooth and officers leave the interaction feeling satisfied that people are being cared for in the best way possible.”
The importance of supporting those with mental health injury/illness cannot be understated, and Muskoka’s paramedics witness the struggles of many in our communities first hand, says Stuart McKinnon, deputy chief of Paramedic Services & Emergency Planning at the District of Muskoka.
“Having a dedicated and knowledgeable mental health resource at MAHC to support patients brought in by paramedics provides them with quick access to the care they need, and has been a valuable addition to the health system in Muskoka.”
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