Another story has emerged about a young Maritimer struggling to access mental health services at Halifax’s IWK Health Centre, after news of one teen’s experience emerged.
Stephanie Martin of Bridgewater, N.S. says she felt compelled to speak out after hearing about a 14-year-old girl with mental health issues who ended up at the police station after being denied entry to the IWK hospital.
“It was kind of déjà vu,” said Martin, who a year ago had to fight to ensure her son got access to the mental health treatment he needed.
“We hit the end of school and Ben just dramatically started to have problems,” Martin said.
“Very quickly, he started not eating, lost about 13 pounds in two weeks. Rapid mood changes.”
One night a year ago, Martin and her husband drove from their Bridgewater home to the IWK in Halifax.
Her son was assessed — and told to go home.
But his mental health struggles persisted.
“He was consistently, sort of, ‘I have no reason to live, I don't need to be part of my family,’” Martin said.
It was only after the family’s local psychiatrist intervened nearly two weeks later that Martin’s son was admitted to hospital.
He spent two weeks at the IWK, and has since been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and a learning disability.
But Martin’s concerns haven’t been put to rest, especially faced with the prospect of a broken mental health system in which “your child can fall through the cracks very quickly,” she said.
CTV News has been requesting an interview with an IWK spokesperson on this matter, but the hospital has declined each time, citing patient confidentiality.
Nova Scotia Health Minister Leo Glavine did agree to speak with CTV News, calling the case “disturbing” and “troublesome”.
Glavine said he’s already been in touch with the IWK Health Centre.
He was asked three times whether there are gaps in the mental health system.
Glavine would only respond with, “If we have gaps, they will be addressed.”
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell
