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OkillLiving LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN Phone: 905-337-5560 Fax: 905-337-5571 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com Phoenix gives new life to those with psychosisBy Angela Blackburndismiss behavioural changes in a loved one.OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFNor should such changes in youths be chalked up to teen angst. While substance use is Imagine a world without trust.often accompanied by social activity, the with-Not trusting what you see because the drawl from social activity is a key sign that world is dark from blindness what you something may be wrong, said Hastings.hear because the world is silenced by deaf-"When a young person who has been social ness that the world is real because psy-stops socializing, something is up," said chosis schizophrenia, bipolar illness or Hastings.severe depression alters perception.Key signs of psychosis include social withdrawl, a significant and sudden change in behaviour, reli-I think the illness is treatable, said Dr. Tom gious preoccupation, irritability, saying and doing Hastings, a psychiatrist with Halton Healthcare odd things, decreased participation in school or Services (HHS). He specializes in psychosis.social activity and increased substance use."It blows my mind away to think some people "When you see someone struggling, it's can't take reality for granted," he said.important to take a close look," said Hastings.Hastings reflects on what it must be like not Again, relatively new is the treatment or to be able to trust the reality of the world around concurrent treatment of mental health issues psychosis, but get patients atric assessment, treatmentyou. He said it must be so frightening. And he and substance abuse.back to their life.based on individual con-works to help those experiencing it.In the past, Hastings said people often were He said that can be, and is cerns/goals including edu- "It can happen to anyone at any time of any told they'd get treatment for one as soon as they being, done.cation about psychosis,background. A lot of positive change has had dealt with the other, which often just set The success stories assistance with work,occurred, but not nearly enough," said Hastings, back or prevented treatment.admittedly the key player is school, social and leisurewho heads the Phoenix program at Oakville-Hastings is clear that he, as a physician, is one often still reticent to go pub-activities, specialized sup-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH).of a team facing the challenge of treating mental lic because of stigma need port to family members andThe program, which also exists in north illness. It will be the usual team effort Sunday, to be told to help eliminate friends, addictions counsel-Halton and Burlington, offers early intervention May 29 when the annual Walk of Hope takes to stigma.ling, and introduction toand treatment of psychosis up to age 40 as the Coronation Park to raise funds and aware-When news of an illness is other community programsmajority of diagnoses are delivered in the late ness for the programs and services the SSO broken, its not what one and planning for manage-teens and early adulthood.offers to those affected by schizophrenia.wants to hear, but the imme-ment of illness after dis-It works with partners including Halton Schizophrenia affects one in 100 Canadians, diate reaction should be what charge from the program.Alcohol, Drug and Gambling, Assessment making it more prevalent than Alzheimers.medication or surgery or Staff available to supportPrevention and Treatment Program (ADAPT) Suicide is the second leading cause of death other treatment is needed to clients include: family edu-and the Oakville-based Schizophrenia Society of in youths. Ninety per cent of people who die by resume a healthy lifestyle cators, nurses, occupation-Dr. Tom HastingsOntario (which supports the families of those suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric illness and without shame or stigmaal therapists, psychiatrists,living with schizophrenia).47,000 Canadian deaths are linked to substance attached.social workers, addictionThe program is about four years old.abuse annually. Suicide is the most common That is not yet the case for psychosis.clinicians and peer support/recovery mentors.The concept of early intervention is rela-cause of death for people with schizophrenia.And as in any other illness, early interventionTo contact the program, call 905-815-5140.tively new, said Hastings.One in five Canadians experience some form is key before damage occurs.Christina Jabalee, an Early InterventionThe goal is to reduce treatment delays and of mental illness in their life. One in 10 Canadians In the case of psychosis, that damage is often Community Worker with the Schizophreniaoptimize chances for recovery. In May 2005, the experience some form of addiction. Seventy per missed school, loss of work, brushes with theSociety of Ontario/ Phoenix Program, knows fullOntario provincial government supported such cent of youths with mental health or addiction law, or substance abuse and it is those experi-well the importance those people can make to aintervention with funding.problems are not seeking help.ences, rather than the psychosis itself if its man-patient.I have a pop quiz for you who had schizo-"If you link all the statistics together, it's over-aged with medication, that leads to long-termHer brother Michael Mike Ray Mauriziophrenia and won the Nobel Prize? quizzes the whelming," said Jabalee.damage in a patients life.(Jabalee) died of suicide after a lengthy battlespecialist from his OTMH office.A reason to hope. The means to cope.Hastings does admit not all medications maywith mental illness. He was 25 years old.Of course, John Nash, the person portrayed Thats the motto of the Schizophrenia Society be ideal What 20-year-old wants to takeHastings said there can be many causes of by Russell Crowe in the Hollywood hit, A of Ontario (SSO), founded in 1979 by Oakville medication for the rest of their lives?" he asksmental illness.Beautiful Mind.native Bill Jefferies and his wife Dorothy in a but he said medications are being improved"Psychosis is largely a biological condition,"Many people are successful despite having local church basement. It, too, has evolved.and noted most medications do have side effects,said Hastings noting medications, drugs, brainsome form of psychosis, said Hastings, but he For more information on the Phoenix but it doesn't stop people from taking them to beinjuries, even stress, can play a part in the onsetnotes that movie may have been one of the few Program/ADAPT, contact the Halton Region well.of mental illness. The latter however do nottimes psychosis has been somewhat accurately Health Department at 311 or 905-825-6000 or Hastings noted that as with any illness, thecause it.portrayed.visit www.halton.ca/health or contact the SSO at consequences of not treating it generally carry"It is not caused by just stress," saidHe is acutely aware of the negative image 136 Cross Ave., 905-338-2112 or www.schizo-worse side effects than the medication.Hastings.psychosis has as its symptoms are what is most phrenia.on.ca.Mental health issues are making the sameOnce present, mental illness can leave aoften portrayed.Registration for the Walk of Hope begins at arduous journey into the spotlight and societalpatient unable to distinguish that something isWould you look at a 45-year-old man with a 12:30 p.m. at Coronation Park. The walk is at recognition as issues such as HIV/AIDS, abuse,amiss and often mental illness will occur alongheart attack and limbs amputated and say thats 1:30 p.m. There is a 5km route and a mini-walk. sexual orientation and cancer once did.with substance abuse.diabetes? asked Hastings.For details, contact www.walkofhope.ca or 905-The Phoenix program includes rapid psychi-Hastings advises families and friends never toThis physician's role is not only to diagnose 338-2112.33 Friday, May 20, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com