Family challenges dealing with mental illness

Here is Viola's presentation:

Thank You for giving me the opportunity to fill you in on 'why' and 'what' we do besides the Christmas Party.

The 'Weekend Family and Peer Support Group' is the only Volunteer Organization in South Delta that actually provides a hands on 'Social Sup­ port Program' for the people who cope with a mental illness every day.

My Background: When my son became severely ill at fourteen I had no idea what was happening, it was four years later, at eighteen when he ended up in the psychiatric hospital, that I first found out he had full blown schizophrenia.

Those were the days when they claimed it was all the mother's fault ..... so when I read in the local paper that the Victoria Mental Health staff was having a meeting in the library to talk about Schizophrenia, I was there, and so was a huge crowd unable to get into the room.

They arranged for a much larger meeting to be held at UVic and the hall was filled again. Members of the Vancouver Schizophrenia Society came, along with a surprising number of people with a mental illness. We be­ came an organization that evening and I was chosen as the first President.

I was so angry at the lack of support for our children I quit my job as the Manager of a prestigious Dress Shop and literally spent the next five years building this organization, then the 'Victoria Schizophrenic Society', to open 'Our Club', based on the home away from home concept, a very successful Club House where we developed numerous programs still in existence across BC. There were no they (staff), and us, allowed there, we were a family!

The Mental Health Teams still in existence today, were created at our Club House and the Peer Support Groups sponsored by Mental Health across the province still, were also started by us.

We discovered that only 15% of the people with Schizophrenia in Victoria were getting help from Mental Health. In South Delta only 17% of the people in this community who have a mental illness are getting the service they need to this day.

We discovered that for every hundred dollars raised for cancer, one half a cent is raised for people with a mental health problem, nothing has changed 25 years later.

 It was at this time that all the organizations across the province, met with the Provincial Mental Health people in Victoria and a plan was established to gradually close Riverview, build four new smaller facilities across the province, and, create services closer to home for the people with a mental illness.

This was to be implemented by the N.D.P Government of the time, but when the Liberals came in, they continued to take the people out of River­ view but did not create the programs needed in each community, in fact they have continually cut the programs created by so many hard working and caring volunteers

We now witness the hundreds and hundreds of people with no safe roof over their heads at the mercy of the drug people in every town in the province.

I moved back to the mainland because my whole family was here and I could not look after my son long distance any more.

When CMHA opened their office here, I joined the Support Group for Parents. As everywhere else the parents here were dismayed at the lack of services for their children.

I decided to use all of my experience in Victoria and we started having a social get-together every month on a small scale. Our members have grown over the years, so many people have passed away, but we get new members all the tim

That was 18years ago and the same parents who started with us, are with us still, but wanting to wind down and would so love to have younger family members take over.

Years ago we had a house lined up ready to go for a drop-in-center, with funding from the Mental Health for staff and rent, including volunteers and volunteer funding for the other needs. But again the Liberal government came in and arbitrarily cancelled everything without discussing our needs with us. They decided they would only cover work programs and we all know that 85% of the people with schizophrenia are unable to work but a larger portion with bipolar can.

As you can see our social programs are more needed than ever! The bowling alley is gone, the movie theatre is gone, our members have no money to attend anything that costs money. Over the years we have managed to go on an out of town event, much loved by our members, when we had a generous donation, or, when we got some funding from the Advisory Committee which does not exist anymore. Our members really looked forward to these events.

Example: We went to the Butterfly House, the Royal Museum, and had the smorgasbord dinner on the way home on the ferry, what a day! We went to Harrison Hot Springs for lunch and to see the sand castles several times.We went to for lunch and the Imax Theatre in Vancouver several times. We went to the Wild Animal Farm and a picnic in Aldergrove several times. We went to see the Annual Parade and the Fort at Fort Langley. We used to go bowling every two weeks when the bowling alley was open. We have potluck and Entertainment when we can afford it.

We had our Annual Steak Dinner at Len and Shirley's every year until two years ago.

We have or Annual Picnic, our Annual Pizza Party at Pat's place and our Annual Christmas Party. Everyone needs something to look forward to, something to do, and then to have the memories. Why do we deny this for our people who need it the most.  Loneliness in itself can lead to depression. Are you aware that 25% of the people with a mental illness commit suicide every year across the country and it seems no one cares! We send a newsletter to our members twice a year.

Five years ago mothers with family members with a mental illness began getting together for breakfast every Friday morning at Joan's Place (now JDR's) at 9:00a.m. We have become such good friends and are there for one another when needed. We would be grateful if all the people in your organization would pass on this information to anyone you know who might be interested. Thank You!