Health minister announces 21 changes to fix broken mental-health-care system
Part of the plan focuses on improvements to ER response
Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said government "will be doing everything possible" to ensure no other person in a mental health crisis gets turned away from an emergency department.
"I would love to think that we will never have another tragedy," Shephard said during a live briefing on Wednesday when asked what she would say to Lexi Daken's family.
"I am a realist to know that that probably isn't going to happen. But what I can say is that we will be doing everything possible to ensure that that doesn't happen."
Sixteen-year-old Lexi went to the emergency room at a Fredericton hospital in February and asked for mental health help. After waiting for eight hours, she left without getting any mental health interventions. She died by suicide a week later.
Her death sparked widespread debate over the gaps in the mental health care system. Shephard quickly acknowledged that the system was broken and she vowed to fix it.
On Wednesday, she announced that the government will implement 21 recommendations within this fiscal year to help do that. Officials say a price tag for the changes is yet to be determined.
"Our government is committed to enhancing crisis care," said Shephard. "Recent events have highlighted the realities of suicide in the province and also the gaps in the addictions and mental health crisis response continuum."
The recommendations were based on feedback from the Horizon and Vitalité regional health authorities. Shephard asked for the input following Daken's death.
Twelve of the recommendations centre on mental health care provided in emergency rooms. They include creating a "standardized suicide care pathway" for every patient who presents with suicidal thoughts; better training for staff on how to deal with mental health issues; expanding mental health care teams assigned to emergency rooms, and providing mental health care around the clock.
The recommendations also included having "a warm hand-off" of care following treatment in the emergency room, and "standardizing" the transfer of patients for followup care.
Education
Among the recommendations from the health authorities was one for better "trauma-informed care" training for emergency department staff, police and other first responders.
The health authorities also asked for a provincial awareness campaign for the services that are available for those in crisis with addiction and mental health problems.
Emergency departments
To improve services for those who arrive at the emergency room with suicidal thoughts, the province will develop a plan for 24/7 coverage by the emergency department mental health care team.
The changes will also ensure that "psychiatry is included in any collaborative care model or other care pathways."
In February, Lexi Daken was told that hospital staff would have to alert the on-call psychiatrist. Her family said Lexi felt like a burden and she didn't want to be a bother. She left with a referral that her family said did not come before her death.
Lexi's father, Chris Daken, said Wednesday's announcement was a step in the right direction.
"I can't say whether it'll prevent it, but I hope it helps alleviate some of these future incidents," he said.
"I hope it helps the next kid or person that has those suicidal thoughts. When you go to the hospital, you're expecting to get help, so I hope that will help them."
He also hopes this isn't the last of the changes the government will make to improve the system.
'More comfortable surroundings'
Shephard said there will also be changes made to the physical environment of those waiting for mental health services "so that when people present, they're not further traumatized in their environment."
She said there will be separate waiting areas and "more comfortable surroundings" for them.
"We can also look to co-ordinating with our secondary levels of care so that there's a warm handoff when someone is assessed" and referred to other mental health professionals, whether it's in the same hospital or at another location.
She said this "warm hand-off" approach is key to success.
"Virtual" emergency rooms will also be created so that smaller, community hospitals will have access to mental health crisis care as well.
Community addiction and mental health services
Shephard promised that more funding will be provided to both regional health authorities in order to improve community addiction and mental health services.
Similarly, more funding will be provided for a team to provide services for young children and youth in Elsipogtog First Nation.
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