New Brunswick has launched a helpline to support those dealing with addictions and mental health issues.
The 24-hour helpline has actually been operating for several months but officially launched this week.
It is staffed by a team of trained clinicians called “care coaches.” They include licensed therapists, social workers, and registered nurses.
These care coaches can provide information, support and guidance to individuals who call the helpline.
If someone needs urgent assistance, they can be referred to mobile crisis services, to the local emergency room, or they can request aid from emergency services via 911.
Numbers provided by the Department of Health show about one in five of the 1,120 calls received in April and May were crisis-related.
About 90 per cent of those were de-escalated by the care coaches and diverted away from 911 and local ERs, the department said. Roughly 400 patients were referred to community or government services.
“We are pleased to offer this new service, where care coaches will assess each caller and offer guidance and help with finding the right service for them,” Sherry Wilson, the minister responsible for addictions and mental health services, said in a news release.
You can reach the care coaches by calling 1-866-355-5550. Officials say they expect the new helpline will cost about $1.3 million a year.
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