A student presented to the disability department at Red Deer College (RDC), in a bad way. She was from out of province, feeling far from home. She had no money or resources. She was very vulnerable, pale, listless, sad, lonely and in despair. She had tried to get help in a few different ways but had struck out. The counsellor at the college called the RDPCN Street Clinic to arrange some help.

The receptionist there was very helpful. By giving her name and telling the student she would lead her through the clinic, a contact was established and she gave the student hope and the courage to come there.

The RDC counsellor, worried and wondered for a few months what had happened to the student. Then one day the student popped into her office. She was bright, smiling, and carried herself so differently from their first meeting. She had found resources to help her through and to meet her needs, she was moving forward with joy.

The counsellor, a nurse, remarked, “This is a nursing experience that I will never forget. This is how it is supposed to work. The Street Clinic was there for her, and they helped her tremendously.”

About the Red Deer Primary Care Network: 

We (RDPCN) are a partnership between Family Doctors and Alberta Health Services. Health professionals such as psychologists, social workers, nurses and pharmacist work in clinics alongside family doctors.

In addition, programs and groups are offered at the RDPCN central location. This improves access to care, health promotion, chronic disease management and coordination of care.  RDPCN is proud of the patient care offered, the effective programs it has designed and the work it does with partners in health care and the community.

I Did Everything the Family Nurse suggested and it Worked like Magic!

Achieving Mental Health is an Everyday Task