Nova Scotia family outraged by mental health cuts to Aberdeen Hospital

A New Glasgow man facing a suicidal crisis is going without mental health treatment, after he was told to travel to Yarmouth to get the care he needs.

Bobby Brooks has bipolar, anxiety and depression.

When the eight-bed mental health unit closed in New Glasgow on Aug. 3 due to a staffing shortage, he and many others were left no other choice but to see a psychiatrist outside the area.

"I was sick to my stomach when they announced it. I went over there in protest," said Brooks. 

On Monday, Brooks's wife drove him to Truro, where he met with the crisis management team. He was suicidal, and he admits the last thing he wanted to do was get in the car. 

"Going to Truro was a big, big issue in my heart," said Brooks.

"The worst thing was I sat there waiting for hours. They made me sit there with 12 or 13 other people there. The public was at risk because I wanted to do harm."

Brooks was initially told he would be hospitalized in Truro for two weeks. Then, several hours later, he learned his bed was needed for other patients. Brooks was then told to go to Yarmouth.

No promises

His daughter, Amanda Brooks, posted the experience on Facebook.

"My father needs the support of mom and I and it's because of mom and I and an amazing counsellor he's had that he's still here with us today," she wrote.

"But let's ship him off to Yarmouth where we can be of little support because you know we have to work to survive and pay those taxes."

Eileen MacIsaac, a spokesperson with the Nova Scotia Health Authority, says the goal is to fill nursing positions and continue recruitment for a psychiatrist so the Aberdeen unit can reopen. 

The health authority wants that to happen by November. However, no promises have been made.

"In the meantime, clients who require mental health care are encouraged to continue to come to their local emergency department as they did before," MacIsaac said.

"They will be assessed and triaged. If the client does require in-patient care, that's when they will be transferred. Truro is our first go-to unit, but if that's not possible, then it's the first available bed within the province."

MacIsaac wouldn't speak directly about the Brooks's experience.

"Not every service is available in every community," she said.

Brooks says it's time for local politicians to make mental health a priority. 

"There's a crisis in Pictou County with no psychiatrists. Why can every other area find staff but Pictou County has nothing?"