(Submitted photo/Positively Parenting)

By Nicole Reis

FACE-TO-FACE COUNSELLING

Local mental health support team looks forward to seeing some clients face-to-face

Jun 5, 2020 | 4:44 PM

Staff at Positively Parenting are looking forward to getting back to face-to-face meetings with clients again amid the province’s Phase three of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.

A majority of the programs at Positively Parenting were offered face-to-face, but during the current pandemic situation, the non-profit social service was faced with moving online quickly to adapt to client needs.Positively Parenting offers a range of social and mental health services and personal development classes in Meadow Lake.

Thyra Berg, program manager with Positively Parenting told meadowlakeNOW limited classes and face-to-face meetings for some clients will begin on June 8, though the service will continue to promote its online offerings.

“We are starting to offer classes, limited size of course following all the precautions and guidelines,” Berg said. “We are offering two classes in June, as it stands right now.”

Their facility doors were closed, support staff are continuing with public engagement by offering programming through social media, their website, by phone, Zoom meetings – whatever it takes to make a connection from a distance.

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Over the course of the current pandemic situation, Berg has experienced a slowing of personal counselling services, though she and her team are reaching out to those who may be in need and staying in-touch with youth through text.

“Naturally we’re social beings and it’s much more effective if we can meet face to face,” she said.” I think it’s a good move so I’m looking forward to it.”

Berg added mental health and physical health are equally important. Positively Parenting will ensure public safety by following provincial guidelines for reopening as well as taking client temperatures through a touchless thermometre before meeting, and providing masks if needed.

She’s feeling quite confident people who need face-to-face service should be able to receive it.

“These are very strange times and the more flexible we can be with how things are going to unravel, the healthier we can approach this,” she said. ”Though being flexible sometimes is scary.”

Phase three

Also part of the third phase is the resumption of service delivery in chronic disease management/wellness programs/stroke prevention, opioid agonist therapy, specialized services for clients with developmental disabilities, autism and brain injuries and continued re-introduction of mental health and addictions services including opening of social detox and addictions inpatient treatment.

All facilities that provide child care services as defined in The Child Care Act, 2014, are limited to a maximum of 15 children per building space to allow parents to return to work. Restricting children to a single facility is mandatory to reduce transmission risks.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722