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10 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday April 26, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Dad is hard at work behind the scenes By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF F ractured. That suitably describes the system, the treatments -- and most importantly the patients and families -- who cross the path of mental illness and more to the point, seek treatment, in their journey of life. John Reynolds is a dad, husband, businessman, Halton resident and, through his now 19-year-old son, a consumer of local mental health system. After more than a decade of dealing with that system, Reynolds is also at work trying to improve it. The huge bureaucracy involved is, admittedly, a big, big wheel and Reynolds is but a small cog. However, he just keeps going, plodding on to what he envisions would be a better system. Behind his vision, is admittedly, the hope that his son will benefit. In his late 40s, Reynolds is now chair of the Consumer Advisory and Advocacy Committee (CAAC) to Halton Healthcare Services' (HHS) mental health services. The group, an advisory board that's a sub-committee of the hospital, was revived at the hospital's asking in 2005 and has lots on its plate to get where Reynolds envisions. It is also operating in a field with very big players: the hospital, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term "We're interested in advancing the case of mental health and contributing to the quality of care and the ability of the hospital to meet the needs of the community." John Reynolds Care and the relatively new Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). Reynolds, who serves as chair in a volunteer capacity in addition to his full-time career, said the steps it takes are small and slow, but still it has already scored on numerous fronts. It is also encouraged by the actions of HHS and the new LHIN 6. "We're a group of consumers who are interested in giving back to the hospital and community. Generally, we're interested in advancing the case of mental health and contributing to the quality of care and the ability of the hospital to meet the needs of the community," said Reynolds. He's hoping a similar committee RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER WORKING FROM WITHIN: John Reynolds is chair of a committee that advocates on behalf of mental health issues with Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. attached to Mississauga's Trillium and Credit Valley hospitals could become affiliated as they are all under the umbrella of the Halton/Peel LHIN -- the body overseeing and connecting local health needs for its boss ­ the provincial government. The CAAC is made up of what Reynolds calls "consumers" of local mental health services. That includes those who have been treated or had a family member treated. In the case of Reynolds and his wife Susan, that is their son, Avard. The young Reynolds was diagnosed, at age eight, as being severely bipolar, an extraordinarily young age to be diagnosed, said Reynolds. He has been treated at hospital two to four times a year and sometimes, in hospitals further afield than Halton that offer appropriate services. "We are consumers and advocates on behalf of our son," said Reynolds. Children's mental health services, in particular, is a focus of the CAAC, as it is an area of concern. Reynolds, through his son, has been a consumer of children's mental health services though Avard, at 19, is now treated as an adult. And the playing field is always changing. In March 2006, an adult day treatment program began operating no longer at Oakville hospital, but at 700 Dorval Dr. See Setting page 12 · CARPET · ORIENTAL RUGS · VINYL · HARDWOOD · CERAMICS · CARPET · ORIENTAL RUGS · VINYL · HARDWOOD · CERAMICS · CARPET CARPET · ORIENTAL RUGS · VINYL · HARDWOOD · CERAMICS · CARPET · · ORIENTAL RUGS · VINYL · HARDWOOD CARPET · ORIENTAL RUGS · VINYL · HARDWOOD · CERAMICS · CARPET · · ORIENTAL RUGS · VINYL · HARDWOOD CARPET & AREA RUG CLEARANCE Don't Pay till 2009 UP TO 1/2 Selected in stock colours starting @ only Clearing PRICE Discontinued Area Rugs, Designer Rugs & Samples, & one-of-a-kind Persian Rugs HUNDREDS OF AREA RUGS Persian, Indian, Chinese, Designer, Silks, Samples and Discontinued Rugs In 6 colours. Installed for only Carpet Clearance Hard-wearing Berber Starting @ only $1.69 sq. ft. Nylon Plushes starting @ $1.99* sq. ft. Super Special 48oz Hard Twist only $2.99 sq. ft. includes installation and underpad HARDWOOD CLEARANCE $3.99* sq. ft. Elegant 8.3mm Plank Style Laminate $3.99* sq. ft. *Sale applies to in stock colours only. Offer good at the following locations. Outlet Store ­ Trafalgar Village 125 CROSS AVENUE Huge Super Store ­ 228 King St. E. DOWNTOWN HAMILTON 905-849-4472 905-546-1921 · CARPET · ORIENTAL RUGS · VINYL · HARDWOOD · CERAMICS · CARPET · ORIENTAL RUGS · VINYL · HARDWOOD · CERAMICS · CARPET ·