Suicidal and waiting 2 years for help. A look at N.S.'s growing mental health crisis
CBC
As vibrant red and orange leaves fall to the ground, painting a picturesque backdrop in late October, Janis Keirstead admits she can't see past the darkness in her own mind.
She's consumed with thoughts of ending her own life. But even knowing she needs help, the 33-year-old Halifax woman feels helpless about where to turn. She's been waiting two years to see a psychiatrist.
"I hear about people with chest pains sitting in the ER for eight to 12 hours without being seen," said Keirstead.
"I don't want to go to the hospital and be disappointed because I feel like it's my last resort. And what am I going to do if my last resort lets me down?"
A CBC News investigation reveals the number of people seeking help during a mental health crisis has risen by 30 per cent in Nova Scotia since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when psychiatrists and mental health services in the province are stretched to capacity.
In Keirstead's case, she required a medication change for multiple diagnosed illnesses, including borderline personality disorder, PTSD, anxiety and depression. She said her family doctor kept sending referrals for a psychiatrist because he didn't feel comfortable playing around with her doses.
"I'm glad that my doctor is being responsible, but there's no psychiatrist to go to," said Keirstead.
Statistics released through an access-to-information request show the number of calls to the provincial crisis line rose to 24,265 last year, up from 19,115 in 2019.
Between January and November of this year, the number of calls totalled 23,752, which is on track to exceed 2020.
In addition, mental health visits to Nova Scotia emergency departments have increased by 30 per cent.
And according to briefing notes to the health minister obtained by CBC News, caseloads with community mental health and addictions have more than doubled over the 2020-2021 fiscal year, a situation that is being "closely monitored."
When it comes to inpatient psychiatric care, beds have been at maximum capacity across the entire province since early 2020.
"Traditionally, inpatient care has been a little bit seasonal, so during the summer numbers tend to drop a little and during the fall and winter they go up," said Dr. Andrew Harris, senior medical director for mental health and addictions at Nova Scotia Health.
"But we've found that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. It's been 100 per cent really for the last two years, like straight on."
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