I'm Canadian - It seems very difficult to get mental help. Please read my full question and help if you can.?

Question

My husband is the only one working right now. He gets just, and I mean JUST enough to cover our needs. If he were to take sick days we wouldn't even have enough.

I'd like both of us to get some psychiatric help. I think he may have Borderline Personality Disorder (http://www.recovery-man.com/abusive/bpd_abuse.htm) and it's affecting our relationship.

Additionally I think I may be Bi-polar. Schitzophrenia and Bi-Polar disorder run in my family and I was asked when I was younger if I'd be willing to be diagnosed - at the time I said no. I've come to regret that.

At any rate, I think we need some help. The problem is he can't afford to take any time away from work. I can't get into town unless he's off work because I don't drive. For other medical problems (things like migraines, back pain, etc.) we've found that our hospital is unwilling to deal with patients in the emergency room. We have no family doctor and no one is accepting patients. The local clinic is the only option and most of the doctors have english as a second language and the wait time is a minimum of 1.5 hours. Going to the doctor is so difficult that it causes stress which exasterbates our problems. And IF we were able to get recommended to a group or regular psych appointments we couldn't make it to them unless they HAPPENED to be on one of his days off, hopefully at the same time so we had some time for relaxation together.

So as you can see, we have some hefty problems. We're very much in love, and so no, we don't want to just end our relationship because one or both of us may be ill or even (mentally never physically) abusive. Additionally neither of us has substance problems, so that shuts the door on a lot of programs I do believe. For extra detail in case it helps, we live in Northern BC. We have no family in the province to turn to for help, and those we do have couldn't afford to help us financially.

What I am asking is: Can anyone suggest any help to us?

I'm looking for ideas. I'm also looking for names of social programs, etc. that might be able to help us. I'd also like to know more about requirements/how-to of getting mental disability benefits, because I think honestly that we might need something like that to help us have the time to even deal with these issues. Of course, anything we DO apply for always has a waiting period. We have NO nest-egg or stashed money, we can't afford a waiting period. Are there any programs that cover that kind of thing in the meantime?

Any help would be appreciated. I've been needing this help a long time and I don't know where to turn.

Thanks.

Answer 1

I suggest that you go to your local clinic even though most of the doctors have english as a second language and the wait time is a minimum of 1.5 hours. But you both need to be diagnosed first!  Sitting around worrying about whether you have a problem or not will not resolve it, believe me I know!

Also see if he will teach you to drive on his days off from work, or see if you can pool together a group of girlfriends who will help teach you.

Take a course at a local college, high school, community centre and begin upskilling so that you will be able to get a job.  This will take more pressure off your husband from being the sole bread-winner.

See if there are support groups in your local area where people with these disorders congregate and join those groups.

Answer 2

Sounds like a biggie.  

Check out your phone book for a crisis line first.  This may help in an emergency situation, plus they usually have a pretty good idea of services available to you in your specific circumstance.

Check to see what sort of coverage (if any) your husband is able to get through his employment.  If you get a portion from social services, ask your social worker about programs available to you.  There are also some for E.I. recipients as well.

It would be worth going to the clinic to get a referral, but also check family members and see if you can get one of their family doctors to treat you.  

I'm not sure about what you mean about "afford a waiting period", though.  All the best to you.

Answer 3

Social programs in Canada include all government programs designed to give assistance to citizens outside of what the market provides. The Canadian social safety net covers a broad spectrums of programs, and because Canada is a federation, many are run by the provinces where you live. Canada has a wide range of government transfer payments to individuals, which totaled $134.8 billion in 2005. Only social programs that direct funds to individuals are included in that cost;



Employment Insurance

Canadian workers who are laid off can receive what is now known as Employment Insurance, but until 1996 it was called Unemployment Insurance. Canadian workers pay into a central fund that contributors can draw on if later unable to work. Since 1990, there is no government contribution to this fund. The amount a person receives and how long they can stay on EI varies with their previous salary, how long they were working, and the unemployment rate in their area. The EI system is managed by Service Canada, a service delivery network reporting to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Canada.

Low-income support

All provinces maintain a program of this sort known by names such as "social assistance", "income support", "income assistance" and "welfare assistance"; popularly they are known as welfare.The purpose of these programs is to alleviate extreme poverty by providing a monthly payment to people with little or no income. The rules for eligibility and the amount given vary widely between the provinces.

Get Further information: Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped

Because Canada is highly regionally disparate, the federal government has several agencies dedicated to developing specific regions. It should also be noted that regional disparities are also a source of tension within other programs , especially healthcare and Employment Insurance.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario

Western Economic Diversification Canada

In Canada. A social welfare provision refers to any program which seeks to provide a minimum level of income, service or other support for many marginalized groups such as the poor, elderly, and disabled people. Social welfare programs are undertaken by governments as well as non-governmental organizations (NGO's). Social welfare payments and services are typically provided at the expense of taxpayers generally, funded by benefactors, or by compulsory enrollment of the poor themselves. Welfare payments can take the form of in-kind transfers (e.g., health care services) or cash (e.g., earned income tax credit).

A disability pension is a form of pension given to those people who are permanently or temporarily unable to work due to a disability.

Guaranteed minimum income (GMI) is a proposed system of social welfare provision that guarantees that all citizens or families have an income sufficient to live on, provided they meet certain conditions. Eligibility is typically determined by citizenship, a means test and either availability for the labour market or a willingness to perform community services. The primary goal of a guaranteed minimum income is to combat poverty. If citizenship is the only requirement, the system turns into a basic income guarantee.

Canada Pension Plan Disability program is the largest long-term disability insurance program in Canada.  Its primary role is to replace a portion of the earned income of CPP contributors who cannot work because of a severe and prolonged disability.  A children’s benefit is also available.To qualify, applicants must be under the age of 65, have made the required contributions to the CPP, and have a severe and prolonged physical or mental disability that regularly prevents them from working at any job.

If an individual has been covered under a pension scheme of a country that has a social security agreement with Canada, the period of time that the individual contributed to that country’s pension plan may be used to help meet the CPP Disability program’s contributory requirement.

The federal and provincial governments are joint stewards of the Canada Pension Plan.  Formal provincial consent from two thirds of the provinces with two thirds of the Canadian population was needed and obtained to bring this provision into effect.

Please visit the nearest Service Canada Office in your area,there is help for you!