The north wing of the Elizabeth in Humboldt is fully equipped to become a group home but has been waiting on approval for months. (Submitted photo/Cori Norman)

By Angie Rolheiser

Help is needed

Humboldt mayor frustrated by lack of rural mental health support

Jan 7, 2022 | 2:49 PM

The Mayor of Humboldt is frustrated by the lack of rural support for mental health services from the Saskatchewan government.

Earlier this week, 75 residential mental health beds were announced for Saskatoon, Regina, Battleford and Prince Albert.

Michael Behiel said he understands the needs for the larger centres but places like Humboldt and Yorkton are being overlooked.

“By not giving us anything it really is a lack of foresight and concern on their part,” Behiel said. “We have gone over it repeatedly and given them stats and numbers.”

According to Behiel, he had a conversation last year with Dr. Saqib Shahab about the need in the area for more mental health services.

Hometown Kid

Broncos commit former Trojans goaltender

6h ago

Health alerts

Sask NDP sound alarm over TB cases in northern Saskatchewan

19h ago

PYSANKY EASTER EGGS

"It's special to pass this on": Saskatchewan family celebrates Ukrainian Easter heritage

19h ago

“When I gave him the numbers, he admitted it was outstanding but that they needed to deal with COVID first,” Behiel said. “It becomes more and more frustrating because it does seem like they are trying to deal with it but they are turning a blind eye to the rural areas.”

There has been steady increase in mental health issues including homelessness, and addictions over the course of the pandemic. In children alone, the need for mental health services is up 50 per cent.

“The longer we avoid this, the longer we are going to see exponential increases,” Behiel said. “The system is already beyond the breaking point and if we don’t deal with it effectively there will be no coming back from this.”

Last year, the deaths from suicide and addictions were two and a half times higher than the deaths recorded from COVID-19, Behiel said. As of Nov. 3, 2021, there were 161 confirmed overdose deaths and 202 suspected overdose deaths in the province and that doesn’t include suicide numbers.

The frustration is building for Behiel knowing there is an independent care facility in Humboldt that is already equipped to become a group home but hasn’t yet received operating approval.

“There is a 13-bed facility set-up and ready, it is a full wing of an extended care home that is not being utilized,” Behiel said. “It is a brand-new facility, it’s not run down or anything and they have met every fire code, everything, they are ready to run.”

There are 13 available beds in a potential group home at the Elizabeth in Humboldt. (Submitted photo/Cori Norman)

Behiel can’t understand why the existing facility isn’t getting operating approval when there is clearly a need for it in the community.

The staff at the Elizabeth in Humboldt have made applications and have been attempting to get approval through Social Services to open a group home for many months now.

Administrator Meaghan Bilokraly said the need for a group home in Humboldt is evident.

“All we have heard is the lack of mental health group homes in the area, so we thought it was going to be a simple process and we are already licensed as an independent care facility,” Bilokraly said. “The last communication we had was that they would call us when there was a need for it.”

In her former job at a different facility, Bilokraly said there are still residents there that would move to the Humboldt facility if it was open.

“There is no help in rural Saskatchewan in Rose Valley, Wadena, and Kelvington, those areas all all forgotten about too,” Bilokraly said.

Staff has been lined up for the centre as well but all of that is on a standstill.

Bilokraly said she recently learned of the shocking number of individuals who are homeless in the area due to mental health related issues.

“I had no idea, and it is unnerving to me that there are so many people living outside in -35 C and we have an entire wing of our building that isn’t being used,” Bilokraly said. “In such a small town, there are people that don’t have a home and they are freezing to death.”

Bilokraly got in touch with Mayor Behiel on Tuesday to insist that anyone that is found to be homeless and sleeping outside in the extreme cold conditions to bring them to the Elizabeth.

“It is very maddening that we are being pushed to the side when we are trying to get the proper licensing to open the door and get people in here and safe,” Bilokraly said. “Meanwhile the other side of this is there are places that are struggling to find beds.”

The kitchen in the potential group home at the Elizabeth. (Submitted photo/Cori Norman)

Cori Norman with community relations and lifestyle at the Elizabeth was the one who initiated the application process and was told there were empty beds in Yorkton group homes so a facility in Humboldt would likely not be approved.

“We have a long history that includes the sisters of the Elizabethan order here in Humboldt who were orientated in healthcare and home care, and they never left anyone outside their door,” Norman said. “Here at the Elizabeth we follow much the same philosophy, we are there for individuals who need and can benefit from our assistance.”

The staff is continuing to fight for the proper group home licensing at the facility but while the cold weather persists and there are individuals that need a warm place to sleep and eat, they won’t be turned away at the Elizabeth.

–

angie.rolheiser@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser