SGEU members at the Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit regret that, due to funding cuts, as of June 1^st they will no longer be able to provide services during daytime hours Monday to Friday.

Currently, frontline staff at the Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, delivering care for individuals and families in need of crisis intervention.

Crisis workers are often the first point of contact for those in crisis. They respond to people in need of emergency care, which requires addressing a variety of psychological and emotional needs. They are highly trained professionals who connect clients in distress to many support services in the community. For example, when workers respond to a crisis, clients are provided with access to a Child Protection worker, and are assessed for mental health, domestic violence, and addiction issues.

Some of the services that staff at the Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit will no longer be able to provide during weekdays include: personal crisis counselling; child abuse and neglect referrals; lunch-hour child protection coverage; suicide intervention; family conflict resolution; mental health community support; addictions counselling and referrals; and many other services.

“This is a significant loss to the community,” said SGEU President Bob Bymoen. “The services that frontline crisis workers provide are integral to the well-being and safety of individuals, families and children in Prince Albert. Some of the most vulnerable people in this province have come to rely on Mobile Crisis when they need help.”

“People can experience a crisis at any time, so crisis workers should be available to help at any time,” added Bymoen.

In 2015/16, the Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit responded to 8,951 calls – a 6% increase over 2014/15, and a 13% increase over 2013/14.

“At a time when Saskatchewan’s population is growing, we need more services not fewer,” said Bymoen.

Crisis workers would like to reassure their clients and the Prince Albert community that they will continue to provide all services, including emergency family and child protection during the hours that the Ministry of Social Services Service Centre is closed – between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m., Monday to Friday, and 24 hours on weekends and statutory holidays.

Although crisis workers are disappointed that they can no longer provide weekday daytime services to families and individuals, they will continue to serve the Prince Albert community with the same dedication and dependability that they have always provided.