by Gail Logan – mother of a 22-year old son who suffers from depression.
A parent’s worst nightmare came true – our family doctor called last November and in a very shaky voice advised me that my 22-year old son had just been committed to the Ottawa Hospital Secure Psychiatric Ward.
Although I was scared, I can’t really say that I was surprised by this turn of events, as I had spent the prior evening on the phone with my son as he told me he no longer had any reason to live and was going to take his life. I begged him to please not give up and promised we would find him the treatment he needs. He did agree to call our doctor the following day and his commitment to secure care was the outcome. Thank goodness I was able to convince my son to hang in there one day longer!
My job as a parent of this remarkable young man is to keep him alive long enough to obtain the treatment (medication and counselling) he so desperately needs and has been unable to find. He has suffered from depression off and on since puberty and unfortunately at no point in the past 10 years has any medical professional been able to determine the cause and/or extent of his mental illness. The health system has failed him numerous times, as well as countless other young people by not providing necessary diagnosis and treatment. He has a lifetime of hopes and dreams to pursue and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure he gets that chance.
He was discharged from hospital in December 2010 with some very strong drugs and a referral to a psychiatrist. It took over six months for him to even get an appointment and along the way, adding to his significant stress and ongoing depression, he ran out of medical benefits from both work and EI. However, I have been able, albeit with some difficulty and debt, to provide him with funds to keep him going. His grandfather has been helping him out financially too.
So, fast forward to almost one year later. After numerous calls to doctors and clinics across the region, a dear friend was able to help my son “move up the queue” and he has finally been seen by a psychiatrist at the Royal Ottawa Hospital. He is FINALLY getting the help he needs and deserves. If not for someone who moved mountains to get my son in to see a professional, I truly believe he would be dead before this Christmas. I remember, when he was released from hospital last year, he told me he would pursue treatment. But, if treatment didn’t work and he still felt hopeless about his future, he would in fact then take his life. He agreed to give it a year but 10 months passed before his first appointment with a mental health professional.
In speaking with the local Academy of Medicine, I found out that there are NO psychiatrists in Ottawa accepting new patients – this is absurd and not acceptable! And if you don’t have a strong advocate like a mother trying to protect her child – a woman who will not take no for an answer – those suffering from mental illness will slip through the cracks and worse – commit suicide.
The good news is people are now talking about this critical issue, particularly as it relates to youth depression and suicide. We all need to take action so that our children get the help they need, along with hope for the future. I’m trying to do my part – what about you?
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Judith Shamian has been the President and CEO of the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) since 2004. 
Hi Judith,
Interesting topic of choice. Youth-Depression & suicide –how can we help is the Question? Waiting to be ushered through appointments and settling for an advanced drug regime, in my mind isn’t the best alternative. Turning into a teenager comes with many responsibilities and the brain may not be adequately equipped to handle the mountain of info. and expectations placed on them. Did you know the Human Brain matures in late teen or adulthood (some research I stumbled across yrs. ago). Some kids needs that extra time to be kids.
Depression is a part of living same as laughter, and all the other human emotions, that’s why we’re human beings. Labelling is a terrible thing and more confusing for a kid to analyse. The best place for the child would be with loving, caring, understanding family members. Sometimes mediation is a good source of strength, it helps the young individual understand their purpose in this world. There has to be a source, or a reason for the feeling of uselessness, or a lack knowledge faced with an identity crisis.
Each individual is unique and sometimes it takes a whole lot of effort to teach one to accept this life they’ve been given. Teenagers are people like us, we were there, we just need to remember… Personally I’m not sure that drugs, prescription or not would be my first choice — I see it as passing the buck. We only have to look at the stat. of recovery rate with medication intervention to make good choices — but then again that’s just me.
Joy Kissoon
Thank your for your comments. While you make some good points, I think it’s important not to confuse the usual teen angst with a serious mental illness. When clinical depression or a bipolar condition is diagnosed, a supportive family is important but sometimes only appropriate medication and therapy can have a lasting impact.
Judith Shamian