Young Quebecers who give care at home will get help from new support team
According to experts, one in five teens and young adults under 30 has to care for a parent or close relative who suffers from mental health issues.
It's an exhausting responsibility for people like Patricia Grammond.
"It was a lot of love to give. A lack of energy, and a lot of culpability," said Grammond, who has spent her life looking after a relative.
In an effort to ease the pressure, Quebec will finance an existing organization that already supports caregivers.
They're called Reseau Avant de Craquer (the 'Before-you-Collapse' Network), which until now, was geared towards supporting caregivers committed to the elderly.
This new initiative is specifically aimed at youth.
"First of all, recognize these youths with a problem, we want to accompany them through the process," said Quebec junior health minister Lionel Carmant.
A total of 35 mental health professionals will be hired with the specific goal of reaching out to teenagers and young adults who face the responsibility of caring for a parent or friend who suffers from mental health.
The outreach workers will have a background in specialized education, psychotherapy and social work says the program's director Rene Cloutier.
"Thousands of young caregivers in Quebec need to be identified and supported so that they can live their life as young people as best as possible and preserve their own mental health," said Cloutier.
They will make sure the caregivers won't burn out or fall into depression themselves.
"I want the professional and the persons giving help to [caregiver] to really help them" said Grammond, who says such a relief program would have made a huge difference in her life.
Carmant admitted it won't make up for the shortage of psychiatric care in the province, but said the program will at least offer resources to some.
"Waiting lists have decreased from 28,000 to 20,000, we have hired 500 mental health professionals but obviously there's been an increase in the number of demand due to the pandemic, by about 40 per cent," he said.
The project has $7.5 million in funding over five years from Quebec. Another $1.7 million from the Support for Relatives organization will also be provided to carry out the initiative.
If the program works out, Carmant said it will be expanded across Quebec.
- With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.