The possible new confinement has an impact on the mental health of Quebecers, already put to the test in recent months. Requests for help are on the rise and cases are getting heavier and heavier.
The Le Transit crisis center offers psychological support and a short-term accommodation service for people in distress. Due to the pandemic, the clientele is becoming increasingly heavy.
“What we can see right now is that people are really going through extremely major episodes of distress. Much increased by the pandemic ”, explains Guillaume Le Moigne, Managing Director.
Due to the pandemic, services must also be reviewed to comply with Public Health directives.
“It’s still changed a lot because normally, we receive up to eight people in accommodation, but since we have to respect social distancing, people cannot share rooms. So we are at a maximum of four, ”says Sofia Arfawi, worker.
According to the Direction de la santé publique de Montréal, the number of people who used the mental health window jumped 50% in October and November, compared to the same period last year. Experts believe that the needs could be even greater.
“Between 25% and 30% of people who don’t ask for help need help. This is where what is important is that those around you must have power over you and say: “Look, there, I think you are not doing well” “said Paul Langevin, psychologist.
The management of the center made a request to the Ministry of Health and Social Services to increase services, without being certain of finding the necessary interveners.
In Quebec, the telephone rang nearly 160,000 times to the Info-Social line, between July and October, which represents a 30% jump compared to 2019.
– .
