Bell Makes Donation to HSN’s Crisis Intervention Hotline

November 24, 2014

SUDBURY, ON –  Canada’s largest communications company is helping Health Sciences North/Horizon Santé-Nord (HSN) maintain a long-distance relationship with people in rural communities in need of mental health crisis care.

Bell is providing $5000 to support the videoconferencing initiative offered by HSN’s Crisis Intervention Service. Bell supports projects and programs across Canada designed to improve access to mental health care services.

“Supporting the Crisis Intervention Hotline at Health Sciences North allows us to help make a difference with those living with mental illness and residing outside of Greater Sudbury,” says Kerri Spooner, Bell’s Regional Vice President, Sales. “We know the importance of providing professional care close to home so clients can be surrounded by the personal support systems they need during this important time in their lives.”

Bell chose HSN’s Crisis Intervention Sevice videoconferencing initiative after reviewing an application of funding from the HSN Foundation, which raises money for programs, services, and equipment at HSN.

“Health Sciences North Foundation would like to thank Bell for funding this important program which provides early access to mental health services to people living in rural communities across northeastern Ontario” says Mary Lou Hussak, Executive Drirector of Health Sciences North Foundation.

Under the videoconferencing model, counsellors based at HSN’s Crisis Intervention Service in Sudbury are available, 24 hours a day, to people having a mental health crisis in Espanola and Manitoulin Island. Using videoconferencing technology through the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN), counsellors have a virtual face-to-face, private counselling session with a client, who is located in an OTN suite at Espanola General Hospital and Manitoulin Health Centre (Little Current and Mindemoya sites).

“This approach to distance crisis intervention is a huge leap forward from the old system where you were talking to someone over the phone, “says Thomas Smith, Clinical Manager of HSN’s Crisis Intervention Program. “This way we get to see the client, read their body language, and provide them with assurance, empathy, feedback and a level of personal connection that would not be available by a mere phone conversation. It is as good as being in the same room together, and that makes for a much better outcome.”

HSN will use the funding from Bell to expand videoconferencing crisis counselling to Noojmowin Teg Health Centre in Little Current and Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services, based at Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, and to train clinicians in rural areas working with youth and adults at risk of self-harm. This expansion will take place in 2015.

NT3