To: |
Manitoba First Nations Chiefs & First Nation Communities |
From: |
Kimberley Reimann, Manager, NIHB Mental Health
Manager, NIHB Mental Health |
cc: |
Glenn Howell, Director, Community Supports |
Date: |
March 18, 2020 |
Re: |
First Nations Mental Health Supports |
Good Afternoon,
The introduction of travel restrictions and social distancing as the result of COVID-19 may result in increased anxiety for yourself and your loved ones. Indigenous Services Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch is developing several options to ensure that mental health support options continue to be available to you throughout the coming days and months.
- Accessing therapists remotely: In cases where the community has restricted access to the First Nation community, therapists may be able to provide mental health support through Tele-psychology i.e. telephone contact, video conferencing or Telehealth.
- In-person access: If the community remains accessible to visiting mental health providers but the mental health provider is practicing social distancing, we will work with the community to provide a relief therapist or offer one of the options noted above. Otherwise the mental health provider will continue on their regular schedule.
- Winnipeg Mental Health Providers: Mental Health Providers offering services in Winnipeg will continue to provide mental health services in their offices or through Tele-psychology for community members residing in Winnipeg.
- A list of other mental health supports is attached for your reference.
If you require any other information or support related to mental health, please contact Kimberley Reimann at 204-983-4183.
AMC Patient Advocate
204-987-4120
1-888-324-5483 ext 4120
Jordan’s Principle
Joe Gacheru 983-2904
Laura May 983-2213
Fern Henderson 984-0389
Manitoba Region Mental Health
NIHB: 1-800-665-8507
IRS RHSP: 1-866-818-3505
IRS 24 Hour Crisis Line 1-866-925-4419
MMIWG Support Line 1-866-818-3505
Hope for Wellness
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Services available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.
Hopeforwellness.ca (online chat)
1-855-242-3310
| Traditional Healers
Manager: Duke Beardy 204-307-8192 (c) 1-800-442-0488 1-204-677-1600
MKO Mobile Crisis
Manager: Justin Courchene Leona Daniels 204-391-4460 1-844-927-5433
MMIWG
Manager: Hilda Anderson-Pyrz 204-307-5919 (c) 1-800-442-0488
KTC Crisis Team
John Spence (Manager) Echo Dumas (Team Lead) 1-800-665-6212
|
Kids Help Phone Resources
1-800-668-6868
https://kidshelpphone.ca/live-chat/
Text the word CONNECT to 686868
Texting service its completely free and available 24/7/365. You don’t need a data plan, Internet connection or an app to use it. All conversations you have with a volunteer Crisis Responder are confidential.
Health Centre Safety Protocols
Clinic
- If experiencing COVID-19 symptoms call in advance, Future instructions will be given via phone
- Sanitize as soon as entering
- Keep a 6ft gap in between you, and health staff
Medical Transportation
- Mandatory for coughing patients to wear face masks at all times
- Vans are being sanitized before and after each trip
- Constant supply of water
Provincial Announcements
Self-screening tool now available online
Please click here to visit a NEW self-screening tool that walks you through questions to help determine if you need to call Health Links – Info Sante. You access it online at:
https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/
Interlake-Eastern RHA’s first COVID-19 community testing site opens the afternoon of Wednesday, March 18
Interlake-Eastern RHA is opening its first drive-through COVID-19 community screening/testing site in Selkirk. It will open the afternoon of Wednesday, March 18 and then adhere to the following hours:
COVID-19 Community Screening Site
622 Superior Avenue, Selkirk
Open 9 to 4 daily
Screening and testing at this site is ONLY for:
- individuals experiencing upper respiratory cold or flu like symptoms (cough, fever, runny nose, headache, sore throat, weakness) AND
- who have traveled internationally in the past 14 days before onset of symptoms OR
- those who have these symptoms and have had direct contact with individuals who have a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 within 14 days before onset of illness OR
- have these symptoms and have been exposed to laboratory samples known to contain COVID-19
NOTE: this screening criteria may change in the future so please watch for updates
The staff at these sites will screen for individuals who specifically meet these criteria and will not administer testing if criteria are not met. There is currently a limited supply of COVID-19 tests and limited resources to determine test results. Health care staff are being directed to test only people who meet the criteria outlined above.
The criteria for testing may change in the days ahead and we will advise you of any updates to share with your community members.
What does “drive through” mean?
People with symptoms will be expected to remain in their cars unless directed otherwise. Testing typically requires a swab of the inside of the nose – this is a test that can be administered by a health care provider while an individual remains seated in their car.
Additional drive through community testing sites coming soon!
We are also planning for drive through screening sites in Pine Falls and Eriksdale that we anticipate will be operational by next week. More information will be provided as details are confirmed.
Strategies for Manitoban Residents
- Minimize prolonged (more than 10 minutes), close (less than two meters/ six feet) contact between other individuals in public,
- Avoid greetings that involve touching such as handshakes,
- Disinfect frequently used surfaces,
- Follow public health advice related to self-monitoring and self-isolation if you have travelled or have been exposed to someone ill with the virus, and
- Avoid travel, crowded places and events, especially if you are at higher risk
The province has recently announced cancellations of gatherings of more than 50 people. This will affect any larger planned resident/community meals in some of these facilities.
Protect Yourself
Good hand hygiene provides significant protection from viral respiratory illnesses, such as COVID-19.
People are encouraged to take common prevention measures, including regular handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds. Make sure to dry your hands thoroughly. You can also use an alcohol-based hand cleanser if your hands are not visibly dirty. It is especially important to clean your hands:
- after coughing or sneezing
- when caring for a sick person
- before, during and after you prepare food
- before eating
- after toilet use
- when hands are visibly dirty
You should also cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or you can cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Throw used tissues in the garbage and immediately wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand cleanser.
Avoid close contact (within two metres or six feet) with anyone showing symptoms of a respiratory illness, such as coughing or sneezing. Children and adolescents should avoid sharing food or drinks (e.g. sippy cups and water bottles), musical instruments or other things that have been in a person’s mouth or hands
Protecting Personal Care Home Residents
As per provincial recommendations made the morning of March 17, we are discontinuing all visitation to our personal care homes except in exceptional circumstances. This is in recognition that the majority of people in our personal care home are considered a high risk for experiencing complications related to infection with the virus. High risk groups include those:
- 60 years and older
- living with chronic health conditions (e.g. diabetes, heart, renal or chronic lung conditions)
- with weakened immune systems (e.g. cancer)
Restricted access to our hospitals and juxtaposed personal care homes
To better control the flow of traffic into our hospitals (and clinics and personal care homes where they are attached to a hospital), we are implementing single point of access for the public and we will have people screening at entrances to ensure anyone entering is not ill or meeting any of the criteria for exposure to COVID-19. This means that you and your residents will be required to answer some questions upon arrival at any of our hospitals.
You can expect to be screened if you are a:
- visitor
- out-patient
- non-RHA courier
- community transport driver
- dialysis patient
- cancer patient
- volunteer
Hospital access points
Ashern ED door and also the clinic door until 4:30 p.m.
Arborg ED door
Beausejour ED door
Eriksdale ED door (same as main entrance)
Gimli Main door & ED door. But, after 4:00 p.m. – only ED door
Pinawa Main entrance
Pine Falls ED door
Stonewall ED door
Teulon Main entrance
Selkirk Regional Health Centre Main entrance and ED door
March 15, 2020
COVID-19 IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS REGARDING CANCER PATIENTS
Please post this information in all Emergency Departments, Community Cancer Program (CCP) sites, and Urgent Care facilities in all Regional Health Authorities in Manitoba.
Background information:
Cancer patients are more susceptible to COVID-19 due to inherent compromise of the immune system, including natural physiological and anatomic barriers; Cancer patients who acquire COVID-19 may be more susceptible to complications of their cancer treatment (i.e. febrile neutropenia, mucositis); The prognosis for cancer patients who acquire COVID-19 may be worse than in those who don’t have cancer; It is important to remember that cancer patients may have symptoms or complications due to cancer treatment that may either resemble or mask symptoms of COVID-19
Instructions for Health Care Providers:
For cancer patients who are on ACTIVE TREATMENT and/or ACTIVE FOLLOW-UP who are suspected of, being screened for, presumptively diagnosed with or confirmed with COVID-19:
Please contact the patient’s Primary Oncologist at CancerCare Manitoba who will provide further direction on managing these patients including decisions on whether or not to continue current treatment.
Contact information:
Daytime hours, Monday to Friday CCMB direct or through HSC Paging at 204-787-2071
After Hours and Weekends HSC Paging at 204-787-2071 – Ask for the medical oncologist/hematologist/radiation oncologist/pediatric oncologist on call
If you are not able to reach anyone in a timely fashion, please page CCMB’s Chief Medical Officer at 204932-6182.
Sri Navaratnam, MBBS, PhD, FRCPC President and CEO, Cancer Care Manitoba
