CONNECTING MENTAL HEALTH TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE

An important question to ask when screening for depression and anxiety
is a question about the individual's lifestyle.

Fifty percent of people with addictions have mental illnesses and vice
versa.

The relationship, however, is complex.

Mental health problems can act as risk factors for substance use problems.

For example, depressive symptoms could lead someone to self-medicate
with alcohol as a coping mechanism.

Or, it could be that someone with an anxiety disorder or depression
has trouble sleeping and is given tranquilizers which can then be misused.

Louise Evans-Salt, Program Director for Fort St. James Drug and
Alcohol Services notes a growth in addictions and mood disorders in
Fort St. James.

"In a small community, we are very aware but it is a growing problem
everywhere," she says.

The community has high alcohol sales per capita and in the last 18
years, Louise has seen people using more than one substance.

" When I first came to Fort St. James people would either drink or use
marijuana, now we see people abusing more than one substance," she
says.

Mental health workers and drug and alcohol prevention staff in the
community have been working together to bring attention to the
connectivity between the issues.

A person with a mood disorder or addiction in Fort St. James can
access all the services available in British Columbia.

Staff at the Fort St. James Drug and Alcohol Prevention Centre provide
support during all stages of the addiction and mental health continuum.

Treatment and support starts with a basic assessment of the person and
the centre also provides counselling and a referral to a treatment
centre if required.

"Even though we are a small town, we are very knowledgeable about the
services out there. We are part of a provincial network and have
access to every aspect of mental health and addiction services," she
says.

The office, situated above the Rainbow Convenience Store, is a cozy
private place.

The centre is used by people from all parts of the community.

Client visits are confidential and they have a variety of entrance and
exit options in case they do not want to be identified. "Our focus is
on wellness rather than on sickness and anxiety," says Louise.

In a recent Statistics Canada report, only 32 percent or one thirds of
Canadians experiencing feelings and symptoms consistent with a
surveyed mental disorder or substance dependence sought help from a
health care professional.

Alcohol misuse cost the country $7.5 billion in 1992.

B.C. has the highest lifetime prevalence for illicit drug use of all
the provinces in Canada according to national surveys.

Tentative figures place the rate for any mental disorder or substance
dependence at around 12 percent or nearly 400,000 British Columbians.

The main reason people do not seek help is because of the social
stigma associated with addiction and mental health issues. "It is time
to take away the stigma. People need to know that depression and
anxiety can be treated and people can function normally and there is
help for them," says Louise.

"You don't have to be a full blown addict to seek help."

Depression and Anxiety Screening Day is a high-profile community event
that has reached out to 20,000 British Columbians since 1995. In Fort
St. James on October 9, screenings will take place at the Sitka
Building and at Kwah Hall.