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Old Nov 20, 2013, 06:49 PM
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technigal technigal is offline
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Member Since: Sep 2013
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1,625
Quote:
Originally Posted by Castleatduino View Post
technigal - Definitely experienced that lightbulb moment too, it's nice to know the self-realisation is sometimes just as shocking for other people. I'm curious - in Canada does your medical system offer proper diagnosis free of charge? Everyone raves about the NHS in Britain (and rightly so...wow, I probably would not be alive without it), but unfortunately I've increasingly found it to be very deficient in terms of mental health. I've certainly no affordable option open when it comes to being diagnosed and even if I were, there would be no treatment I could get for free, or even for cheap. If Canada can offer proper healthcare following a diagnosis then that is amazing!
Yes, my diagnosis and all treatment are covered under our provincial health plan. The only thing we pay for is my medication, and for that expense we are reimbursed 100% by insurance that my husband's employer pays for.

Mental healthcare in Canada could be a lot better, the wait times and availability of services vary between areas, I live in a major city and so there are many services but if you don't live in a big city your access is limited.

I have avoided some of the wait lists as my psychiatrist does not think I need the entire DBT program they offer just the Advanced Skills portion. The waiting list for DBT is one year long so I am lucky to be starting in January. Since my psychiatrist runs the program through the hospital I guess I will trust him. To see my therapist I waited a month but had another group of therapists who checked with me weekly (and I could call in) until I started with my therapist.

I have lots of British friends and I have to say I have heard the good, the bad and the ugly about NHS. I think our system works fairly well, just needs more money to fund the programs so there are less wait times.
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Mags

Depression diagnosed March 1996
PTSD diagnosed January 2000
BPD diagnosed September 2013
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