Waiting List Implemented at KSCS
Written by Paul Graif on 19 March 2021
Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services (KSCS) says they have been forced to create a wait list for those in the community who are requesting mental health services. KSCS Executive Director Derek Montour says requests are up by at least 50 percent from the same time last year.
“Not all of them can be easily directly attributable to COVID,” Montour said. “However, all of them are exacerbated because of COVID. We had, for example, last year I think the number was 250 over the course of the year and we are over 350 at this point.”
Montour says he’s not surprised with the increase. But it is still pushing the limits of the system.
“It’s understandable. People have been dealing with the pandemic for over a year now. In any type of confinement situation our mental health begins to suffer because we lose connections with family. We lose connections with close friends. We don’t go out as much. And that impacts how we cope and manage the challenges that all of us face,” he said.
KSCS has implemented a wait list and will triage people to prioritize their current situation. Even if you are placed on a wait list to receive help, Montour says there are options that remain available for community members.
“If you’re in severe depression, reach out and call the Peacekeepers (450-632-6505). Ask to speak to the on-call worker and be able to communicate that way if they do not have another form of connection that they can make. But the big thing I think is to try to keep positive and try to use some of the techniques we’ve put out there,” Montour said.
KSCS can be reached at 450-632-6880.
