CBN mental health crisis team not as mobile as thought

By Olivia Bradbury

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Conception Bay North mobile crisis response team for mental health is not as mobile as most people might think.
That’s according to Harbour Grace councillor Christine Hearn, who updated council on the results of a recent meeting of the CBN Joint Council.
Hearn said the meeting was attended by officials of NL Health Services, who clarified details about the operation of the mobile crisis response team.
“I think the biggest thing that came out of it was the recognition that when we think ‘mobile,’ we were thinking like it is similar to St. John’s and that the unit would be moving about,” said Hearn. “A lot of people there at the meeting came to the realization, based on the presentation, that no, it’s not an actual mobile unit. It’s called that, because in town (St. John’s) it would be moving about, but out here it’s going to be set up at Carbonear Hospital, that’s their base. They did a really good job presenting an overview and clearing up that misconception, because I think that’s what people were looking for.”
Hearn noted NL Health Services is still trying to recruit people to staff the unit.
“Right now, recruitment is their issue and we know that’s an issue in health care across the board,” Hearn said.
During the presentation, the NL Health Services’ director of mental health and primary care, Laurie Sullivan, noted the purpose of the unit is to help people experiencing a mental health crisis, and to remove some of the burden from the RCMP, whose officers are often the first responders, which takes a lot of their time.
“Our staff go out into the community … for wellness checks, if need be,” said Sullivan. “Or, if there’s somebody who is struggling in the community, they can be the first people on the scene, as opposed to having to call the RCMP. It’s more about deescalation.”
The team’s first staff member, a nurse, was recruited in June. NL Health Services is trying to recruit a second nurse and a social worker.
“The intent is to have them out in the community, but we’re building that up as we go because, obviously, we’re a very small team with a very large geographical area,” said Sullivan.
Since June, the Carbonear mobile crisis response team has had 54 client interactions either within the community, at the emergency department, or with admitted patients at Carbonear General Hospital, Sullivan said.