In Bas-Saint-Laurent, several mental health professionals consider that resources are insufficient, both in the region and in the province as a whole.

Of course we could always have more resources. We cannot say: we have had enough, we react to everything; it is not truesays André Boudreau, executive director of the C-TA-C organization.

The organization helps men who are struggling or behaving violently. C-TA-C offers services in four MRC Bas Saint Laurent: Rimouski, La Matapédia, La Mitis and La Matanie. A vast area of ​​14,000 square kilometers.

André Boudreau explains that workers from his organization regularly make rounds of the site and meet the men they have asked for help. Usually two workers travel to Amqui every week. Interventions can also take place via telephone or video conference.

According to Mr. Boudreau, the myth of the indestructible man who is supposed to weather storms without outside help persists in society, which requires a special adaptation during the first interventions. From the moment of contact, it is assumed that the person could be in a risk area. We’ll try to dig when the call comes. what’s your story what are you living Then we have indicators that show possible risksexplains the director.

In 2022, the C-TA-C welcomed 512 men, an increase of more than 15% over the previous year. However, the organization’s resources have doubled in recent years, allowing it to respond to a new request within two to three weeks. In an emergency, they can intervene more quicklyspecifies André Boudreau.

Our frontline services are reasonable

The spokesman for the Center for Integrated Health and Social Services of Bas-Saint-Laurent (CISSS) confirms that existing public resources are doing their job. Our teams are equipped to get the job done wellsays Gilles Turmel.

He particularly highlights the existence of a team of social workers and psychologists for La Matapédia.

However, the spokesman acknowledges that the mental health waiting list has increased since the pandemic.

As for the secondary services, the only psychiatric service in Bas-Saint-Laurent is in Rimouski.

When asked about the quality of mental health care in the region, the Vice President of the Association of Psychologists of Quebec responded in a very different tone.

” The conditions are currently not appropriate […] which deprives the population of a certain service. »

In addition to the distances traveled to obtain certain services, several factors contribute to the inadequacy of public services in relation to the population. It’s a series of things, it’s quite complexstates Gaëtan Roussy, who cites the lack of resources and poor organization of front-line care and psychiatric services as the main reasons.

Although he welcomed the words of Prime Minister François Legault, who on Friday indicated he wanted to pour more money into mental health services, the psychologist insists on the need to reorganize front-line care.

There are still community organizations, but they are underfundedhe complains.

We need more money to fulfill our basic mission

Nanny Gaudet is the executive director of Rayon de Partage en Santé Mentale, an organization with a shop in Amqui. Its mission is to offer an aid service in the Matapédia Valley based on mutual aid and solidarity.

Ms Gaudet is clear about the funding of the organization she is responsible for: better, recurring funding is badly needed to ensure its sustainability. The Community Organization Support Program recognizes the Rayon de Partage organization and funds its projects. However, funding based on the organization’s overall mission would give it greater stability and leeway.

Such a funding guarantee would protect the organization from the loss of its human resources, which the director fears. Her staff is very valuable, she stresses, and it would be very difficult to replace them.

We sow the seeds, we water, it takes a long time to grow. Not all seeds grow at the same rateexplains Nanny Gaudet, which is another reason for a stable team.

What we’re seeing more and more in the community is that it’s difficult to recruitadds Anne-Marie Boucher, coordinator of the Regroupement des resources alternatives en santéALE du Québec. We must continue to develop support and listening services in QuebecShe says.

Anne-Marie Boucher stresses that community organizations play a role of proximity to the community and that their staff are able to promote a non-repressive and voluntary approach with the population.

Quebec has one hundred alternative resources and more than 300 community mental health groups.

With information from Patrick Bergeron and Shanelle Guérin