Alberta Health Services is hoping to make it easier for people living outside of Calgary to access addiction and mental health resources.

Access Mental Health has recently expanded its non-urgent telephone service to include all residents living within the Calgary Zone of AHS, which includes Airdrie.

People can call the telephone-based service to talk about options and potential referrals for addiction and mental health supports.

Debbie Molloy, Access Mental Health Service Manager, says Calgary residents have been able to access the service since about 2003.

She says there was a parallel service for those living outside of the city limits in surrounding communities but that the decision was made this year to bring the services together.

Molloy says now everyone will receive the same level of service.

The toll-free number for Access Mental Health is 1-844-943-1500. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 pm. Monday to Friday.

When you call during those hours, Molloy says there is a queue system and callers wait in order to speak to a mental health clinician.

"So there's a bit less leaving messages and needing to call back and playing that telephone tag game," says Molloy on the benefit of this new streamlined service. "Folks can just access us in live time based on the availability of the first clinician when they call."

Molloy says the clinicians are on hand to discuss mental health concerns, options, and supports that are most relevant to the individual.

"Our clinicians are very abreast of the depth and breadth of resources that exist both in the City of Calgary and in the outlying rural communities and towns," says Molloy.

As for who uses the service, Molloy says it varies between people calling about their own mental health or addiction concerns, people calling about a friend or family member, and other professionals and physicians calling about a patient.

Molloy says on average, 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health disorder each year.

"Most of us do know someone who has faced such challenges. Is is possible to recover in terms of these issues and live a meaningful life despite the fact that symptoms may exist over time. There's definitely hope out there and help out there so we're available any time for that conversation," says Molloy.

A voicemail is set up for those who call Access Mental Health outside of the regular hours.

 

Comments? Questions? Story ideas? Email news@discoverairdrie.com