Donna Wilson is a professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. Her case study, A Case Study of High Users of Hospitals for Evidence-based Health Policy and Health Services Planning, discusses the degree to which those with mental illness rely on hospital services, the inadequate availability of community care, and the effects of closing Alberta Hospital. Download a copy of the case study here.
The mentally-ill patients who were familiar with services or programs in the community often reported these as “few and far between” and “ineffective.” None appeared to be well-suited to their needs. One patient tried participating in an established program but the rules were “too strict” for him as clients were expected to attend this program a minimum number of days each week, otherwise they were not permitted to participate. This patient had also tried a drop-in centre, which was a more informal program, but it also had “too much structure.” Another patient tried to use a distress line, but was turned away. She commented, “Well, I think having the distress line is not a very useful thing. Because once when I (while experiencing suicidal thoughts) called, they told me that I was only allowed to call once.” Another patient and her husband reported what they saw as a lack of concern by community-based healthcare professionals, which caused them a great deal of frustration as they would not validate that she was having problems. A psychologist whom they hired privately “said nonchalantly, „you‟re not going to die from anxiety‟.” This patient was also told she was “faking” her symptoms to get attention. Both she and her husband felt she had a better chance of getting appropriate treatment in hospital.