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Phoenix program gives youth new lease on life by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 3 | Friday, May 3, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Editor's Note: The names of the mother and son featured in this story have been changed to protect their privacy. Ted had always struggled with anxiety and depression as a child. As one of several children, it was difficult for him to see his siblings basically happy, well-adjusted in school and going through a typical childhood while for Ted, everything was a struggle. His parents certainly noticed, taking him to various doctors and support workers. "Everything seemed to help for a brief time," said Andrea, Ted's mother. "He had regular counselling with a family doctor, we would go there every two weeks. But it was really a Band-Aid solution and wasn't the right answer in the long term." Eventually, things came to a head for Ted as a teenager when he began self-medicating and using marijuana to calm his anxiety. He initially believed it was helping him, but over time, it became problematic, says his mother. At age 19, psychosis emerged. "To his credit, at that point, he actually came to us and described his symptoms and that he wanted to go to the hospital," Andrea said. It was then the Oakville family was referred to the Phoenix Program, which focuses on early detection and intervention for people in Halton, aged 14-40, experiencing their first episode of psychosis. "Psychosis refers to a pattern of symptoms someone might present that include either hallucinations, and/or delusion thoughts: irrational beliefs you can't convince someone aren't true," said Dr. Alan Brown, chief of psychiatry at Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) Mental Health Week is May 6-12 and Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) is focusing on youth mental health -- identifying the issues and proper treatments, and the importance of getting the conversation started. The Oakville Beaver's two-part report, The Inside Story, explores the issue locally with personal stories, information and resources for support. and Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital (JBMH). "It can be caused by a number of different disorders, for example, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, depression and sometimes illicit drug use or adverse reactions to medications. Sometimes, it's even caused by organic disorders, such as thyroid illness... head injuries, or brain tumours." Brown explains the first task of the Phoenix Program is to rule out any of these physical disorders and then tend to what is described as the psychotic disorder. After Ted met with Dr. Tom Hastings, lead psychiatrist and director for the Phoenix Program, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and treatment began soon after. Launched in 2007, the Phoenix Program was established by HHS in partnership with JBMH, the North Halton Mental Health Clinic, Halton Alcohol and Drug Assessment, Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT), and the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, along with Ministry of Health and LongTerm Care funding support. It has assisted 424 patients since its inception -- 119 in the last year. It's the partnerships that allows the Phoenix Program to offer a multi-disciplinary treatment method, which includes a psychiatrist and nurse who manage overall care, appointments and administration of medication; an occupational therapist to help the patient re-engage in school or work; a peer-mentor who has lived through the experience of Dr. Alan Brown a mental health issue and helps with coping skills; a social worker to work with a family to help them understand mental health issues, teach coping skills, and how to identify when symptoms are escalating and what to do; and an addictions worker from Halton ADAPT to help if there is substance abuse involved. Brown says psychosis can be difficult to detect in children and adolescents and doctors have to be careful not to overdiagnose a psychotic disorder especially in a younger individual who may just be caught up in their own internal world and imagination. 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