Waiting for health care: a strain on mental health

“I’m suffering mentally.”

At 19 years old, a figure skating accident caused a foot injury, triggering the development of Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, causing severe body pains and inability to complete daily tasks. In her early-30’s, a physical assault to the head led to bodily-harm induced epilepsy and a prolonged seizure, causing her left foot to contort. Over time, the injury worsened, making its way up her legs and leading to severe hyperflexion, or contractions.

Eryn Bannerman (Supplied)

Bannerman describes her foot as being in a constant state of ballet point, with her toes curled in, practically locked in that position. The skin stretched adds a layer of sensitivity to the area leading to pain when putting on socks or shoes.

Doctors are now referring Bannerman to neuromuscular specialists to see if her condition is relating to other disorders like cerebral palsy or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

However, for Bannerman, having experienced no other symptoms besides the foot injury in 10 years, she says she would rather go through with the surgery. She doesn’t believe seeing more doctors will help, but instead will delay her surgery date further.

At the moment, surgical volumes do seem to be stabilizing across the province. According to Alberta Health Services (AHS), while hospitals like the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre are still facing issues due to physicians and patient isolations from contracting COVID-19, around 90 per cent of average weekly surgical volumes are being delivered provincially.

Bannerman’s main priority, she says, is to be free of the pain in her foot and the hope to one day go through rehab with a prosthetic and learn to walk again.

“When I talk to people who have had to basically be in my position, where they had to sit and wait for a life altering surgery, especially an amputation, they were better able to deal with things once they had the surgery date,” said Bannerman.

“I am kind of on what they used to call a nervous breakdown,” she said. “I’m feeling like I’m about to crack.”

Acknowledging the need for help, Bannerman described calling her doctor asking for mental health services.

Being on Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) from inability to work, Bannerman sought help from Red Deer’s Primary Care Network (RDPCN). The clinic provides free mental health counselling services from registered psychologists or social workers.

Patients with family doctors can call for counselling and can receive around six sessions with the same counsellor. Lorna Milkovich, Executive Director for the RDPCN, says the services are more for a short-term duration, but patients are guided to where they can receive long-term services afterwards.

Bannerman says she also sought help from the 49^th Street Clinic run by AHS offering mental health counselling but claims she has not received consistent care from a psychologist.

In a statement by AHS, they said, “AHS’ Mental Health Therapists may be registered psychologists, registered nurses, or social workers. Dependent on a client’s assessment, a referral would be made to one of the available and most appropriate members of the team. AHS services are free.”

AHS also listed the following free online and telephone resources:

AHS Help in Tough Times: extensive number of links and self-help resources to help manage anxiety, stress and other concerns
Wellness Exchange Online Courses and PSA Heartmath Online Sessions: Transform Your Stress: free, online courses are available for Albertans interested in learning skills to cope with change, deal with stress, and pursue goals
Togetherall.com: clinically moderated, free online peer-to-peer mental health community that empowers individuals to anonymously seek and provide support 24/7.
Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
The Addiction line at 1-866-332-2322 (24/7)
Health Link at 811 (24/7)

Bannerman believes the flaw in Alberta’s health system is the inaccessibility of long-term mental health care services from registered psychologists for those with low-income who cannot afford the help on their own. Phone lines, she says, do not suffice as long term care.

“They give you a different counsellor every time you call in. You have to explain your whole situation all over again. It leaves very little time for actual counselling.”

AHS responded to the claim stating, “Therapy length is based on clinical need of the client but the goal is for all clients to work towards independent management of their mental health symptoms without the need of therapy. This is achieved through treatment and targeted therapy that works on goals to improved management of mental health. This can range from a single individual session to group sessions offered four times a week dependent on clinical needs of the client.”

They confirmed longer term sessions can be offered if it is determined that a patient requires them.

Now mostly bed ridden, at times unable to complete simple house chores from the pain, Bannerman says she dreams of the things she hopes to do if she could learn to walk again with a prosthetic: hike in the mountains, play basketball, and get back on the ice.

Bannerman encourages those suffering to never give up on themselves.

“Keep fighting to get the help that you need. Keep searching. Keep talking to your doctor,” she said.

“Get what you can get because at least maybe you can learn something. They can help you in some way.”

by Alessia Proietti

Waiting for health care: a strain on mental health

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