“One of the ways that we decided to expand is to assist the senior population, those who are most likely to feel isolation and loneliness.” Bridging the Distance has no cost attached, and the program was expanded in 2021 to be available to people in more communities in the southeast: Estevan, Weyburn, Carlyle, Oxbow and all rural areas in this corner of the province, right to the Manitoba border. Individuals who are housebound, or those living with disabilities can now access Bridging the Distance counselling. The first phone call from Envision Counselling will be with an intake counsellor, who finds the best program fit for each issue by asking a few questions. From there the Bridging the Distance counsellor will begin telephone support. In Weyburn and surrounding area, call 306-842-8821 for counselling or to make enquiries about local services. In Estevan 306-637-4004, or Carlyle, 306-453-2405.
“It was confidential. It was somebody I could talk to. Just a voice on the other end of the line. You don’t have to worry how they’re looking at you, how you’re acting.” Weyburn resident Sarah, who chose to remain anonymous, received counselling through the Bridging the Distance program, a new telephone support service helping individuals during the pandemic. The program is a confidential toll-free support program for those who are 55 years and over, are living with disabilities, or are housebound individuals. Sarah says talking to a local counsellor made the sharing easier. “It’s a hard call to make, but I thought, if it’s going to help, it’s well worth it,” she said. Sarah shared that since the lockdown began, her mild anxiety has increased, so much that the last time she saw a health worker, she felt like she was having a panic attack. She told her counsellor about what was happening and was given some tools to help cope with her feelings and some materi