The Envision Counselling and Support Centre has announced it is extending a program that has proven to be valuable to seniors and others during the pandemic.
鈥淪ometimes you can鈥檛 talk to your family about these feelings,鈥� says a woman Envision called Sarah, a 71-year-old who phoned into Envision Counselling and Support Centre through Bridging the Distance.
鈥淚t was confidential. It was somebody I could talk to. Just a voice on the other end of the line. You don鈥檛 have to worry how they鈥檙e looking at you, how you鈥檙e acting.鈥�
A Weyburn resident, also named Sarah, received counselling through Bridging the Distance program. She said talking to a local counsellor made the sharing easier.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard call to make, but I thought, if it鈥檚 going to help, it鈥檚 well worth it,鈥� she said.
Sarah shared that since the lockdown began, her mild anxiety has increased, so much that the last time she saw a health worker, she felt like she was having a panic attack. She told her counsellor about what was happening and was given some tools to help cope with her feelings and some materials to read on her own.
Sarah says it has made a big difference. She can go back and read her email and it helps her settle down.
鈥淩ight off the bat, talking about it seemed to help. I just felt like鈥 can live again.鈥�
Bridging the Distance has no cost attached, and the program expanded in 2021 to be available to people in more communities in the southeast: Estevan, Weyburn, Carlyle, Oxbow and all rural areas in this corner of the province, right to the Manitoba border.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to make adjustments to our services to help with the mental health crisis in our communities,鈥� said Christa Daku, Envision Counselling and Support Centre鈥檚 executive director. 鈥淲hen people cannot leave their homes and connect with people as they normally have, they are at risk of greater issues, such as suicide or addiction.
鈥淚 would say that there are so many in the same boat, and we want to get the word out that help is available to them, just on the other end of the phone.鈥�
Individuals who are housebound, or those living with disabilities can now access Bridging the Distance counselling.
鈥淪tarting in 2021, we are able to offer the program to those younger than 55 years who are shut-in or unable to leave their homes, due to health issues,鈥� Daku says.
The first phone call from Envision Counselling will be with an intake counsellor, who finds the best program fit for each issue by asking a few questions. From there, the Bridging the Distance counsellor will begin telephone support.
Sarah says her life has changed for the better since she reached out to Envision Counselling.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big decision telling people what you鈥檙e going through. If they could just realize there is help out there and make that first step, to make that call.鈥�
鈥淏ut I think by telling my story, it could help someone else and maybe they will realize they鈥檙e not the only one out there,鈥� she said.
In Estevan and surrounding area, call 306-637-4004 for counselling or to make enquiries about local services. In Weyburn, call 306-842-8821, and in Carlyle, 306-453-2405.
