Another Inuk woman from Iqaluit /Nunavut sent south for medical treatment at risk of becoming homeless in Ottawa if not brought back to Iqaluit ... people with addictions & mental health issues need extra and special supports while on medical travel. /1
When someone with addictions and mental health issues is facing scary medical situation - we can’t be surprised when they revert to addictive and/or self destructive behaviours to cope and/or avoid reality. /2.
I appreciate how challenging and difficult it is to deal with such situations but punishing a person by kicking them out of lodging without any specialized supports or approaches - further sets them up to stress and more likely cause them to fail. /3
It’s not surprising in this situation acts out including making poor decisions, such as losing (leaving it behind with friends and it gets stolen) their wallet with all their ID. /5
Woman doesn’t want treatment - probably because she’s totally freaked out and scared from cancer diagnosis. Refusing treatment is her choice. /6.
And almost every bureaucrat in the system is ignoring or not helping to figure out Inuk woman can get home - except for one nurse - whose spent days calling every authority for help but bounced around or back and forth with no end or solution in sight. /7
Some how, some one told her to call me - late Friday afternoon, a civic holiday ... but after several calls and emails - and after 5 pm; a lot of the same run-around and unhelpfulness ... until airline reps have come through with solutions. Our airlines rock! /8
So it looks promising that medical travel will hopefully book this woman’s return ticket home & she’ll be in Iqaluit on Monday or Tuesday ... all because a nurse cared and wouldn’t give up - and both airline reps have given info to facilitate travel. /9
It would be good if the system could develop policies around what I know is a regular problem … a # of our residents w/ addictions and/or mental illness will need to be sent south for medical treatment. We can’t disregard/ignore their additions/mental health requirements. /10
And a # of Inuit with no additions and/or mental health issues will lose their ID while traveling … again, something that can readily be dealt with - if its written down clearly what the various options are - and can be widely shared amongst the various agencies involved. /11
Time for me to get my rest…
…the nurse and I have committed to working together and that our mutual goal will be completed once we know this woman is safely back in Iqaluit.
What happens after or next is this woman’s choice but she will be back with family & friends. /12
…the nurse and I have committed to working together and that our mutual goal will be completed once we know this woman is safely back in Iqaluit.
What happens after or next is this woman’s choice but she will be back with family & friends. /12
