Always room to improve child mental health services

By Tim Kalinowski on February 10, 2018.

tkalinowski@medicinehatnews.com @MHNTimKal

Medicine Hat and its surrounding region has a variety of services to support children and youth with mental health and addiction issues, says Coralee Rahn, manager of AHS Youth, Child, Family and Prevention Services in the city, but that does not mean there is not room for even more.

“We do see an increase in demand for our services,” she says, “but is that because there are more children with concerns or problems? Or because there is less stigma now; so kids are talking about it? In terms of the need and demand, what we try to do is promote positive mental health in children and youth, and in overall society. So can you ever have too much of that? I don’t think so.”

Children and youth have access to school-based and community-based programs, says Rahn, which provide a sophisticated structure of support. These programs include school-based staff and work in lockstep with a variety of school programs such SD76’s BEST team, HUGS and MY PLACE programs, MHCBE’s Community Coming Together program and PRSD’s DREAMS program.

“We also work quite closely with our one child psychiatrist here in the city,” explains Rahn, “but he is not part of our team at Addictions and Mental Health Services. We make referrals to him when we are needing that type of service, and he makes referrals back to us where those kids are needing ongoing supports for treatment as well.”

According to Rahn, there is a variety of access points where children, youth and families struggling with mental health and addictions concerns can access programming.

“Schools could can make referrals to us directly after getting consent from the child’s parent or guardian,” she explains. “We might get a parent or guardian calling us directly. It could be a referral from a family physician or child psychiatrist. Or the Ministry of Children’s’ Services; referrals can come from a number of different contact points.

“I would say probably the most common things we are seeing is anxiety and depression,” adds Rahn. “We know of many mental health problems and mental health disorders which occur early in a child’s life; so we want to provide early intervention and treatment in those instances. We know that less than half the people who have a mental health concern actually access support for services.

“Our assessment would involve talking directly to that child or youth. We would work with preschool age children as well; so we do provide support to the daycares, preschools and early learning programs; as well as in our clinic here.”

Medicine Hat’s Addictions and Mental Health Services office runs an assessment program out of its office Monday-Fridays for anyone who wants to come in person.

Rahn says the important thing is if you have a child or youth struggling with mental health and addictions concerns is to get them help as soon as possible.

“The earlier we can get to a child who is having these concerns, and the faster we can get them services, likely the better off they are going to be in the long term. We are trying to promote positive mental health in our community.”

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