Windsor doctor makes adolescent mental health a priority

By Kamryn Cusumano

 

 

A Windsor doctor is on a mission to improve mental health services in the community.

Dr. Patrick Smith, a family physician in Windsor, was inspired to create a non-profit organization called Stigma Enigma in 2013 to address mental health problems in the city, after many patients of his, friends and family members with mental illness die by suicide.

The committee, headed by Smith, is comprised of 18 leaders in the community. They hope to eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness and improve funding of mental health services in Windsor. The organization hosts events around Windsor to raise awareness.

Smith has seen a rise in mental health issues from patients over the years. After the death of two patients and a close friend from suicide, he became extremely concerned there were not enough services available in the city to address this epidemic.

Smith was then shocked by the sudden deaths of his niece Sophie and nephew Geoff. Both siblings had suffered from mental illnesses for years and died from suicide. He and his family shared frustrations about the difficulties of getting them into proper care and treatment. These experiences ignited a fire within him to create Stigma Enigma.

Stigma Enigma’s committee members are comprised of former basketball players, coaches and citizens. Their idea was initially a basketball tournament which ended up evolving into something much bigger.

“I said why don’t we sponsor a basketball tournament and have a banquet where we have a speaker talk on mental health,” said Smith. “They would talk about mental illness and how it impacted them and how other people would benefit from hearing their story.”

Speakers at past events included former NFL player Eric Hipple, Margaret Trudeau, Olympian Silken Laumann and NBA player Royce White.

This year Ginger Zee, a meteorologist from Good Morning America, will be speaking about her struggles with mental illness at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts Nov. 3.

Smith chose Maryvale, a children’s mental health treatment centre in Windsor, as the recipient of the money raised for the events. Maryvale counseling programs receive 100 per cent of all money raised.

“We have a counseling program for high school students,” said Connie Martin, executive director of Maryvale for 35 years. “There is an unacceptable demand. We have 160 Windsor kids waiting.”

Martin said she is not sure whether there are actually more children with mental health issues or if this generation is just more willing to see somebody about it, however the stigma surrounding mental health remains.

“The stigma is huge,” said Martin. “One of the scariest things for any of us is thinking you’re not in control of your own mind, there’s something terrifying about that. I think there will always be a stigma for that reason. When it comes to your mind and your emotions people tend to believe there is some sort of deficit.”

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, one in five children and youth in Ontario experiences a mental health challenge and about 70 per cent of mental health challenges begin in childhood or youth.

Stigma Enigma hopes to see the Ontario government create more funding and services for adolescent mental health to meet the increased demand.

“Children’s mental health service is not considered a necessary service,” said Martin. “If you have a child who has a physical disability or gets medically ill…there’s laws that say you have to respond with a service. With children’s mental health there are no laws for responding and that again just speaks to the stigma.”

According to Martin, Maryvale is constrained financially, having to rely on fundraising. Stigma Enigma events have allowed Maryvale to hire a full-time psychologist who works with 50-70 local children a year. Approximately 800 children every year walk through Maryvale’s doors and 150 children are actively being seen.

Although progress is slow, Smith and Martin are encouraged by the improvements they are seeing in the mental health system.

Nancy Campana, the event coordinator for Stigma Enigma, said she is looking forward to Ginger Zee speaking and believes she will bring something new to this year’s event.

“I think it’s going to be a high-profile event,” said Campana. “Ginger is one of the biggest names we’ve had, she’s pretty internationally recognized.”

Although the event will be a large get-together, Campana wants to make sure the focus remains on what really brings attendees out that night.

“This is a night that is really based on suicide awareness and mental health,” said Campana. “It’s really a night of education and what I’ve found every year is that people leave with a little bit more information that they can put in their pocket and pull out as needed.”

As part of the Stigma Enigma mission statement, they want to improve mental health care in this region specifically.

“In a couple of years we will have four new psychiatrists coming back to work in town,”
said Smith. “Which is great because we are actually improving access to psychiatry.”

Smith and other committee members have also begun going to local schools to talk to students directly about mental health issues. They discuss where they can get help and offer coping strategies. L’essor high school was their first visit on Oct. 19.

For more information on Stigma Enigma or ways to get involved visit www.stigmaenigma.ca