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Attitudes created a gap in access to treatment continued from p.3 between fantasy and reality improves, and thus, our diagnostic ability increases," he said. In either case, Brown explains early detection and intervention with psychosis or any mental health issue is paramount in the success of treatment -- one in five Ontarians under age 18 struggles with a mental health issue. And the longer it goes unrecognized, he notes, the more accumulated secondary damage can occur. "For example, if an adolescent has a psychotic disorder, that disrupts their thinking, which makes it difficult to function in school. They end up with academic failure, which can derail their career development," Brown said. "It also impairs their ability to relate to others and their social relationships, so they become increasingly isolated and feel despair and alone." He also says physical damage can occur as mental health patients are often heavily stressed and at a higher risk of developing diabetes, heart disease or even cancer. "The earlier we can intervene and prevent that secondary damage, the better the outcome and quality of life that person can have," said Brown. "If we can get a young person in our program and get their psychotic thinking under control, we can keep them engaged in school, or with a young adult, help them preserve their job or career and maintain relationships with family and friends." Now at age 22, Ted has been able to move on with life, return to school and set his cap towards a career. "He is not ashamed to talk about who he is, his illness or his experiences. He wants to help others through his openness and has enormous compassion for others. We are very proud," said Andrea. "And I can't begin to express my gratitude to those who have helped (Ted) and our family. They are true heroes in our eyes." In the last 30 years of his medical career, Brown says he has seen an increase in the prevalence of mental health issues among children and adolescents. Whether it's because the medical community is diagnosing it more accurately or if there is an actual increase, he's says he's not sure, but the "clinical impressions (indicate) more children developing disorders and those with disorders seem to be more severe." Brown also noted one of the most significant issues to be dealt with in mental health has been its perception especially for youths, explains Brown. Other obstacles include: a lack of awareness of disorders and how they present in youths; undeveloped resources to recognize the extent of the disorder and meet the needs of the younger population; and a lack of integration between mental health and treatment resources, boards of education, and primary care facilities. As well, Brown says the resources available from a "confusing array" of different government ministries has caused "a patchwork of services and a lack of co-ordination, which makes it very hard for family physicians, families, parents and school people to know where to go to get help." That's why the Navigator Program was established in February 2011, by HHS, to help children and their families navigate through the healthcare system and ensure those with mental health issues receive the help they need. "Because there is this patchwork of services, each one has its own entry point into the system to get help and it's not often made clear or public where these entry points are," said Monica Bettazzoni, HHS program director for Mental Health Services. "There are also very long wait lists for them to get access to services. The navigators are able to pick up kids and families within two days and follow them and provide for them that shortterm case management they need until they are hooked up with their proper destination service." In the first 18 months of the program, the navigators helped 78 children and youths -- close to 20 of those were "homeless, many more refused to go to school and all were in crisis," she said. Since its launch, the Navigator Program has helped 152 patients. It receives no government funding and provides its services through a donation gift from the Mental Wellness Network -- 100 per cent of the funding for the staff's salaries also comes from private donations. As such, HHS has set a goal of raising $1.25 million by December to help fund the Navigator Program -- currently, it's at the halfway mark, according to the website www.navigatorcampaign.com. For every $1 donated, an additional $2.50 will be donated by community foundations, the Mental Wellness Network and Amarna. The second in the two-part report The Inside Story will take an in-depth look at the relationship between anxiety and eating disorders, its effects and how it can be treated. 5 | Friday, May 3, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Monica Bettazzoni and says sharing stories like Ted's are an integral part in overcoming it. "It is breaking this implicit code of silence that's gone on for so many years," he said. "It just takes incredible courage to come forward, given how mental health has been perceived in the past... and I have unbelievable respect for those patients and their families that do because other parents are more likely to listen to those who have gone through this... and that is what, in turn, gives others the courage to come out." 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