The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Markham residents Julie and Gord Combdon are parents to an adult son who has struggled with mental health issues. The couple openly shares their trials and tribulations. ized at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Colin has been‘clear of psychiatric facilities Newmarkei. for one year and is of! medications. his mother A 72-hour admittance became a two-week said. He receives Ontario disability support stay. program assistance. Became he resides alter- Although no consolation. the psychosis nater in Markham and Nev/market. he cam diagnosis provided a few answers and raised be assigned a psychiatrist. she said. many more It also marked the first turn in 8 "That's a flaw." she said. “One day is differ- Today. four years after the formal medical verdict. the couple â€" she. a medispa owner. he a registered massage therapist â€"-â€" both in the quaint hamlet ofVIctoria Square. admitted something was awry long before. BY CHRIS TRADER ctrubrrGDyrmgxom n the tranquility of their bucolic offic- es. lulie and Cord Combdon speak of turmoil. Solemnly. they explain the difficult path and pain they have shared with her son. his Stepchild. diagnosed with paranoid phienia at 23. As the rage. agitation and distance from family grew. so did the Oombdons' concem. Mrs. Combdon often felt threatened by her son. she said. “His anger was so extreme.” Mr. Oombdon said. “We walked on egg shells” Afier a severe conflict with his biological father, with whom he lived. Colin was hospital- ized at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket. A 72-hour admittance became a two-week A stepdad to Colin sifloe the lad was three. Mr. Combdofi believed the boy‘s anger was typical iteenage behaviour. Colin's damaged psyche led to selflmtucst- ed stays at Southlake and. eventually. Mack- enzie Health in Richmond Hill and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in series of institutional mvolving doom Colin felt safe in psychiatric facilities. the Gombdons surmised. ' The drug induced either more anger or total lethargy. his mom said. Cognitive behaviour therapy. proven to help many patients. is voluntary, the couple said. As such, Colin declined. “My son still doesn't feel there's anything wrong with him." she said. “When a patient is forthempy, the system often isn't." Doctors at the facilities prescribed van‘ous pharmaceutical combinations It has been a diflicult process. Mr. Comb- don said of clinicians' need to discharge seem- ingly stabilized patients. caring for them at home, wonying about their well-being and your own. And, when a relapse occurs. as it did in 2013. it's an onerous task navigating queues back toward a hospital bed. ent from another for ()olin." J The (‘onibdons have researched the mala- dy and infrmtructure in place to treat it. 'Ihey are hopeful. Schizophrenia can relent as a patient grows older. Mr. Combdon said. In the interim. the couple communicates with Colin daily. helps him with small tasks and has short visits. "He's not able to stay focused." she said. The couple advocates for understanding and empathy when dealing with mental ill- Combdon said. Mental health isx‘éues need to be de-stigmatized. Caregivers must be proâ€"active to get help on behalf of their loved ones. Mrs Oombdon A more pro-active mental health care tem. availability of specialists who not only ofier therapies. but mentoring for patients and an end to long wait lists would result in better outcomes. the couple said. “You have to ask." she said. "It's not offered. You have to be their substitute decision maker." "We've always searching. smuggling through a wet mine field." Mr. Combdon said. "It's hugely important to never. ever give up on the person." Mm Combdon nods and dams a tear. “Colin knows. no matter what. we're then: for him." ‘l‘qoroflen. people am too judgmental. Mr. SYAFF MOYO/STEVE SOME RVlLLE One in live children. youth and adults is affected by mental health issues. l’xleh year during Mental Health Week. (Ihiltlmn‘s Men- tal Health Ontario and the ( ‘anadian Mental Health Axsoeiation Ontario call attention to the importance ol‘good mental health and to the role each of us has in supportng those with mental health challenges. “If we can get young people help early, wv can prevent pmblems from becmning man serious." he said. ' _ "'lhere should he no shame in talking about mental health igs'ues. The "lure we talk about this. the more we reduce the awni- atcd shame and stigma so that young people can get the help they need when they need it most." This year. (hnadiun Mental Health Am» ciation Ontario is using Mental l lmlth Week to focus on women. who am 40 per cm! mnrv likely than men in develup u mvnml illm-ss. 'l'lto goal nl‘ the week is to engage cum- munities and individuals arrow Ontario to increase understanding of mental health issues. reduce the stigma assm‘iatcd with mental illnesses and spread the message th help is available. About 70 per cent Mall mental health problems arise, hvfmv the age of 18. (Zhildn‘n's Mental Health ()nturin president and (1M) Gordon Floyd said. GET CON N FCTE D This Is ms! one of many atoms about a family's struggle and low-(0am Wofld of ups and downs one a dugnosns oi mental Illness ts made 0w mvestlgatlon IMO mental healrh In Yo“ Reqlon launcha as pan of Mental Health Mel m Ontano from MayStoll ' Ovet the next tew weer we take d took at mental films» from the pubht health and satety punt 0t vnew We Investtgate hospttal prottxols on how they handte potenttalty wotent patents We xpeak thh Ymt Reqaon's mental heatth pvattttxxten and odnmmtrdtm to reveal thew onqomq «haltetm We aim heat hum rwdfinx how the Wm} ha: helped and tailed them In mm at a men! [month (camera repon on three mental patient shomqu M \hdf? new poke math «Hogs t0! dealing wnh mduvndualx Mme nwmai Instade pow a nsk m themwlves and ntherx leqal pmkfisaonalx phywanx twntal heaflh adnumxmtnn. and panelm mm the ram! N.“le \ympwum 0n Mental DH)!th and (mum! Jmttu' pawn}? opmaon And finally, we 131k m m Reqnml Pnhu‘ about what the tow Ix dmnq to deal wnh mm mm Wk) Ham mg ptottxnl and mallam mm m M v YORK REGION MEDIA GROUP LAUNCHES B-PART‘ SERIES - Markham \toum :Ilv Hosp LIISIS‘TEJIH 90’» 4 3.’ ‘896 ~ Pathwavx for k haMrvn 905 ~Communnv (Hans Rosg'xmsx (24 hours) HO Dr) H‘ u OPP 6868 is P Mp PM me comments and/m \uqqextmnx n ’ma\(\n(myin1¢1u>lvw m