BROKEN SYSTEMS

A FATHER’S JOURNEY

So It Begins… • Born January 2, 1978

• Loving parents

• 2 older sisters

• Twin brother

• Younger sister

GLORY DAYS

PROUD DAD

STRONG WORK ETHIC

TRAUMA TSUNAMI

• Loss of daughter to Alberta

• Custody battles in court

• Sudden passing of sister

• Disrupted sleep patterns

• Loss of employment

SUBTLE CHANGES • Mood swings

• Anger & aggression

• Isolation

• Nervousness & agitation

• Distracted/unfocused

• Paranoia

• Conspiracy theories

• Insomnia

• Headphones

DOWNWARD SPIRAL • Up for days

• Confrontations &

threats

• Argumentative

• Conversations with

his voices

• Angry texts

• Vacate family home

• Loss of contact with

his children

• No cell phones in

near vicinity –

tracking & recording

devices

“NO PROBLEM HERE” • Calm

• Non combative

• Respectful

• Cooperative

• Compliant

• Emerg discharge

– No consult with

family or counsellors

WITHIN 48 HOURS… • Escalated

aggression in truck

• Incident at Daycare

• Reports from

community

• No sleep

• Bizarre behaviors

DRASTIC MEASURES • Cariboo Memorial Hospital

– Emerg provided wrong forms

• Family Physician

– Copies of correct forms

• Notary Public

– None available in city

– Back to Sugar Cane

• RCMP

– Child apprehension

• Cariboo Memorial Hospital

Emerg in Williams Lake

– No beds in Kamloops x 2 days

• Circle of Strength

– Concern for staff

– Concern for community

• Knucwentwec

– Intent to remove daughter

• Family Physician

– Certified under MH Act &

transport to Kamloops Royal

Inland Hospital for MH

Assessment

– Guarantee collateral

information provided to

Kamloops Psychiatrist

“FOOLED THEM TOO, LOL”

• Emerg x 2 more days

• 30 minute assessment

– Bipolar dx

– No collateral

information sought

– Discharged

WITHIN 8 DAYS OF

DISCHARGE • Conversations with

dead people

• Extreme paranoia

• Excessive walking

• No sleep & little food

• Hells Angels

abduction/Protection

• Strained relations

• Thought projections

• Messages from

strangers

• Coordination efforts

from Williams Lake

• Alerting police

– MI, please don’t

harm

Ummm….

• Embracing the voice of people with mental health issues

and addictions

• Promoting inclusion

• Working collaboratively

• Influencing the social determinants of health (ie: housing,

justice)

• Focusing on the mental health needs of all age groups

• Using evidence to inform our work

• Being transparent and accountable

TOO LATE • Count 1

– Disarming a Police

Officer

• Count 2

– Assaulting a Peace

Officer

• Breach

DEEPER DESPAIR

• Continued psychotic

behaviors

• No connections with

resources in

Kamloops

• Contact with Car

#40

• Visual & auditory

hallucinations

• Evicted from friend’s

home

• Sleeping in public

washrooms

• Direction messages

EXHAUSTING RESOURCES • FNHA – MH Team

– No assist at 1 South

– Provided contact numbers

of resources that didn’t

know they were contacts

(11pm calls)

– Seeking 2nd opinion of MH

Assessment = 1-800 # =

referral to website of

College of Physicians &

Surgeons = ????

• Interior Health

– Wait times and process to

meet with visiting psychiatrist

– Confidentiality & Privacy Act

– Not considering Continuity of

Care disclaimer

• ASK Wellness

– Workers away sick

– Unable to navigate

appointments

HOME

FINANCIAL BARRIERS • Ministry of Social

Development

– Requires Release of

Information with

each agency

– Multiple barriers to

access of information

– $35 after shelter

• Utilities via parents

• Persons with

Disability Application

– Impossible for person

with MI to navigate

without advocate

– Lengthy process to

apply 3mo + 3mo for

decision process

– $346 month after rent

RECOMMENDATIONS • Access & Assessment

Centre

• Mental Health Advocates

– For patient & family

• Confidentiality & Privacy Act

– All agencies working

together vs isolation

– Process for sharing

information &

documentation between

agencies

• Increased funding for

Community-Based resources

• Coordinated efforts &

partnerships between

agencies

• Cultural Safety and Mental

Health Training mandatory

for RCMP & Social

Development

• Process to seek 2nd opinion

re: MH Assessments/Dx