The state of mental health treatment and diagnosis is about to improve in Innisfail with the addition of three mental health professionals -- two part-time and one full-time.
“We are very pleased with the additions of extra staff that will help address concerns in our mental health advocacy strategy,” said Tammy Oliver-McCurdie, Family Community Support Services manager.
The addition of Janet Venema, full-time adult mental health liaison; Jolie Suntjens, part-time community treatment order support worker, and a part-time family support worker contracted by FCSS are positive changes to Innisfail's mental health care environment, said Oliver-McCurdie.
Last month Oliver-McCurdie met with Kerry Towle, MLA for Innisfail/Sylvan Lake and the Wildrose's health critic to share the Innisfail and area mental health advocacy strategy.
“We had a good meeting,” Oliver-McCurdie said. “I shared the Innisfail mental health strategy framework that we have developed in conjunction with our local partners, and she shared what she could with regards to the provincial strategy. It seems to have already had results.”
The Innisfail mental health advocacy strategy called for the provision of increased mental health services in Innisfail, which could result with a locally based mental health professional.
Now Innisfail has that with the hiring of Venema, as Innisfail's second full-time adult mental health professional. Based out of the hospital, she will work with Innisfail and area patients over the age of 18 and supply diagnosis and treatment. Part of her duties will include working with acute care patients.
“I have enjoyed being in Innisfail so far, and the people I have met, from the community partners organization, to those I meet where I shop and live, are friendly,” said Venema. “This really is a caring community and I look forward to serving my clients and Innisfail for a long time.”
Venema started her position at the hospital on Nov. 25.
Suntjens was introduced to the community at last week's community partner meeting. Working out of the Olds office, Suntjens will provide Innisfail with community treatment support one day a week. At present, her role is developing, as this is the first time Innisfail will have had support in this area. Part of her function will be to ensure those with treatment orders (medication regimens) continue to take their medication regularly, and implement further action if necessary.
“Family Community Support Services have been able to contract a family services counsellor one day a week for Innisfail,” said Oliver-McCurdie. “Unlike the adult therapist, this counsellor will work with clients of all ages and lifestyles. We are excited at yet another addition to our mental health toolbox.”
McCurdie praised her fellow community partners for their vision. “I see these professionals coming to our community as important, and commend all our partner groups for their support,” she said. “The problem is not going away, and we have to have a long vision, one that will serve the community as a whole very effectively. To do that, we have to have the province and Alberta Health Services on board 100 per cent.
“She (Towle) has heard so many stories about lapses in mental health care that she wants to work with our local partners, to make Innisfail a healthier community,” she added. “We already have a dialogue started, and hopefully, we can end up with what we have diagrammed out.”
