Hi C,

If you work for a company they usually have employee assistance programs. If however you work for an individual then you're right there, there's not likely to be any EAP.

You don't need to tell your boss you have a mental illness at all. Just that you have a doctor's appointment. You could have cancer. Crohn's. Ulcerative colitis. Rheumatoid arthritis. Who's to know? That's how I handled taking time off work. No way am I telling my colleagues and supervising physicians that I was off to see my shrink... If your employer asks you have the right to say that it is a personal health issue. No need to mention the word mental or psychiatric.

There are psychiatrists in Halifax who do psychotherapy. Curtis Steele, Jacqueline Kinley, Allan Abbass to name a few. I do not know if they are good, only that they do psychotherapy not just meds. Ask your family physician to refer you *specifically* to a psychiatrist that does psychotherapy - if he/she refers you simply to "Mental Health Outpatients" you get assigned randomly.

We have had patients referred in from the ER who presented unsuicidal saying "my husband was in the program it was good I want to be in too" and they got in... so perhaps you can try again. Go to triage and tell them that you need help, can't cope, list your symptoms, want to see a psychiatrist. It is sad but you need a good story, if you just go and say "I have PTSD I'd like to be in the Day Treatment" that does not fly. Bring someone with you who can tell the ER physician what your functioning is like and who is concerned about you. Ask to see the psychiatry resident after 10pm - if you go before then you will see the psychiatric nurses.

As for psychologists or social workers - it is cheaper to seek out an MSW than a psychologist. Call down the list of psychologists you find on the APNS website and ask about sliding-scales. Look in the Yellow Pages under Marriage, Family, Individual Counselling for the MSWs and call around.

If you truly want help, it is there. You need to do the legwork. You may have to pay certain amounts but you aren't going to find the sliding-scale fees unless you call and ask. Nobody publicises these so you need to do the work first. I am speaking from experience, having worked the system myself and worked in it as well.

You just have to be willing to do the work to get the help you want.

Thank you very much. I have been told not to use this type of forum unless I had a therapist as welll, but I am desperate for help. I am in soooooo much mental anguish and feel that my life has been a total waste. I guess I should try to write about my story but am afraid no one cares. I am 54 and feel like I am 5 or 4!

I have been "in the system since I made a very serious attempt at suicide over 20 years ago. I had a psychologist who was fantastic but he moved away from Nova Scotia years ago. Since then I have been in day hospital programs and attended group sessions. BUT once I was well enough to leave the hospital enviornment ( and I have to leave as I am a single parent with no family support) there was no support at all other than psychiatrists. I know you mean well, but I have NO MONEY. I can barely make my rent each month and live on Mr Noodle. There is no money for therapy. I have networked, googled, telephoned till I am blue in the face with frustration. If you know where to find help, please please please lead me in the right direction. It is not due to a lack of trying. You say you have done it, so share the wealth, please. I am not a stupid woman, I seek help for others on a daily basis and am very resourceful. But in this area I am meeting a brick wall.
Where do you find an MSW? The laws say I am entiled to 3 sick days a year. How do I make appointments with that? I work for a non profit, I am very proud of the work I do, but the pay is low and there are no medical benefits and we do not get paid if we do not work. And I have seen others get fired for missing time ( 3 times a month) for health reasons. My GP is wonderful, she diagnosed skin cancer when others told me I had acne. If not for her, I would be dead. However she agrees there is limited help other than drastic measures (suicide). If I had someone to take me to the hospital to explain my situation, I would not feel so alone. I have NO SUPPORT. No family, no friends, no one. I felt angry that you would say that if I truley wanted help I would find it. I have tried so hard and been whacked in the teeth at every try. You cannot just call up a psychiatrist and say I want an appointment. My doctor will not refer me to someone she does not know.

I spent a week going through the phone book in November, calling counsellors ,etc from the yellow pages. Each and every one charges at least $100 an hour. I don't have $100 a month that is not needed for food or shelter. Have you ever worked for minimum wage and tried to bring up a child? I went to Jason Roth and Associates 10 yrs ago and spent my life savings on appointments and he didn't even get to the point of making a diagnosis. We went for walks to the coffee shop. I can do that by myself and not pay $120/hr.

Wow, who told you not to come to this type of forum without having a counselor? I guess maybe whoever it was figured you might get too triggered or something. But getting triggered isn't necessarily bad, and you can take regular breaks from the forum. I'm learning to do that more.

I'm sure your life hasn't been a waste, but I know what you mean because I sometimes feel like that myself. You should write your story, if you want to. Post a thread in the Trauma Diaries section. I don't know about anyone else but I'll read it. And people here do care. At least I've found that to be so.