My Mental Health Changes.

My Mental Health Change, and What it means to me.

Several months ago I began transitioning out from a mental health program that I had been a part of for more than ten years. I just turned 46, so that would mean that I was in my early 30's when I started the program. I was having difficulty at the time in structuring my days, I was not well enough to work, and I needed outside help to feel like I was a part of my world. In 1999, I was given a mental health diagnosis and since then have been using anything and anybody that is available for help.

Growing up before my diagnosis, I had a very strong sense of my physical health and never had any serious mental health problems. When I was 21, I briefly slipped into a very short depression, but was able to come out of it by myself. I then became a born again Christian and things were very happy in my mind, and relatively happy in my life. I never had any other mental health problems until my crisis in 1999.

I learned a lot about psychiatry and psychology as I was trying to stay well, and this literally saved my life. Coming from a Christian background I never saw a conflict between my faith, and receiving proper mental health care. Part of the reason is because I grew up Catholic and the Catholic Church is less strict when it comes to this sort of stuff. I was a part of an evangelical church for a while, and I am still shocked that most of these bible churches don't subscribe to psychiatry or psychology. I understand the reasons why, but now I know it would have been cruelty to deny myself the relief that I have felt by being part of the mental health community in York Region for the past 20 years.

It was a let down when I realized that my personal support was being changed, and I really had to make sure that I had a backup plan in place. Having a psychiatrist is a blessing not a curse, because the mental health system is so strained right now, and defining what really is long term care, is becoming harder and harder for me, because of the constant demand on workers to be a your beck and call all the time. Mental Health is taken very seriously in Canada, and part of my recent 'fighting' was to prevent myself from being lost in the System.

I think I won for now, but staying well takes perseverance and a lot of good will and help from the professionals. Apart from pretty much rebuilding my mental health myself, I still live in a place where the help is there if you need it. This is Mike.

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