Derek Neary
Northern News Services

FORT LIARD (Nov 05/99) - Help is now only a phone call away for Fort Liard Band and hamlet employees through a Community Employee Assistance Program (CEAP), formally announced on Friday evening.

Topsy Cockney, of NWT Community Mobilization, said the CEA program will enable employees to call a 1-800 number to reach the Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre on the Hay River Dene Reserve. They can then talk about any concerns they may have. A similar system exists for Ekati mine workers, she noted.

Issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, relationship problems, financial or legal concerns, gambling, stress, grieving, depression, anger management, suicidal feelings, working away from home, coping as a single parent and other work or career issues are examples of difficulties workers may encounter. Face-to-face counselling sessions, with or without other family members present, can be arranged to take place at the treatment centre.

Don Antoine, employment and training co-ordinator for the Acho Dene Koe, said the challenge is now to make employees aware of the service and encourage them to use it.

"If people believe in this type of thing and believe in themselves ... there's people out there that want to help," he said, adding that drug and alcohol counsellor Sandy Chalifoux is available to provide follow-up care. "We're trying to ensure we help the workers, as opposed to just firing them."

Pamphlets explaining how the program works are to be made available in the community in the coming weeks.

The pamphlets and a plaque unveiled in conjunction with the announcement read, in part: "The community of Fort Liard believes in supporting healthy workers and their families by offering assistance to build and maintain a healthy lifestyle."

Up to five one-hour counselling sessions are offered free of charge to employees. Referrals can be made to other agencies when required.

The program is being funded for one year by Deh Cho Health and Social Services, DIAND and the Department of Justice, Cockney said. After the year expires, she said it will be up to the community to find the resources necessary to continue the initiative.

The advantages to using the Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre are that Slavey language services are available and that confidentiality issues are avoided, according to Cockney. In small communities, being seen entering a counselling service can be intimidating, she acknowledged.

Vern Jones, executive director of Nats'ejee K'eh, said the treatment centre is dedicated to healing the body, mind and spirit and Fort Liard's CEAP program can help achieve that goal.

"The telephone counselling service is the first step in this pilot project," he said in a press release.