A walk-in clinic to have access to a psychologist

A medical clinic in British Columbia offers a service like no other: access to a free psychologist without an appointment.

After spending nearly 20 years in the United States, psychologist Lesley Lutes was stunned by the lack of mental health services in primary health care clinics in the province.

In the United States, psychologists have been included in primary care teams. So, I was really surprised to see the absence of psychologists in primary care hereexplains the director of the center of excellence in research on obesity and well-being.

It was to counter this lack of services that in 2018, as part of a pilot project, Lesley Lutes opened the clinic on the campus of the University of British Columbia in the Okanagan (UBCO).

The clinic is now open two days a week and it is possible for all British Columbians to have access, in person or online, to its services.

A second clinic: a second way of doing things

Last January, Lesley Lutes opened a second clinic. Although this primary care clinic is only open to students and staff of theUBCOit allows us to put into practice another way of helping patients.

In this clinic model, the family doctor works in a team with a psychologist.

There is no letter from the referring doctor. It’s not in another office, everything is recorded in one health record. This is the model I use here at the University, which I propose to the Government of British Columbiaexplains Lesley Lutes.

The clinic atUBCO also allows medical residents and the next generation of psychologists to become familiar with this way of working.

It is also, according to Lesley Lutes, a much less stigmatizing way for a patient to meet a psychologist.

The patient does not know whether he is seeing a doctor or a psychologist. This helps standardize and level the playing field between the two practices, which is critically important.

British Columbia Physicians Association supports

Ahmer Karimuddin, the president of the British Columbia Physicians Association (Doctors of BC), is favorable to the idea of ​​integrating psychologists into primary care.

patients’ general health and their ability to function effectively in society”,”text”:”We realize, over time, that mental health is a very important component of patients’ general health and their ability to function effectively in society”}}”>We realize, over time, that mental health is a very important part of patients’ overall health and their ability to function effectively in society.he said.

He explains that in recent years there has been an increase in problems with anxiety, depression and addiction. In addition, dementia problems are growing due to the increasingly elderly population. He adds that the health system has experts, like psychologists, who can help patients and [qu’]you have to make the most of it.

Patients with mental health issues are least able to advocate for themselves. If there is a channel that allows a family doctor to refer a patient to a psychologist […]it’s really a good thing.

He believes that family doctors, psychologists, nutritionists and physiotherapists must work as a team for the well-being of patients.

Whether in hospitals or in communities, we must recognize that there are several actors who can help patients receive the care they needsays Ahmer Karimuddin.

Regulating psychotherapists

British Columbia is also proposing a change to better regulate the profession of counseling therapist and psychotherapist. A public consultation (New window) takes place until the end of June, and the government will then decide whether to formally regulate psychotherapy.

This will make psychotherapy more legitimate if it is designated as a health profession. Mental health is just as important as physical healthsays Nicole Le Bihan, from the Federation of Associations for Counseling Therapists.

After several studies and publications on mental health needs, Lesley Lutes believes that we must take action. How do you want people suffering from anxiety, addiction or severe depression to advocate for themselves?

Although she is currently focusing on the implementation of integrated primary care clinics, Lesley Lutes hopes that one day this type of clinic will exist across Canada. It is the responsibility of those who can to help and support people who suffer in order to survive.she concludes.