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Mom, Am I Crazy?
by Lorette C. Luzajic
This is National Mental Health Awareness Week (May 3 to May
9, 2010). For 59 years, the Canadian Mental Health Association has been
hosting awareness raising weeks within America’s National Mental Health
Month of May.
Despite increasing societal acceptance and understanding of
mental health issues in our communities, we have a long way to go. On
the one hand, it seems every rambunctious child is labeled “ADHD” and
slapped with profitable prescriptions. But on the other, it’s still
taboo to address issues like childhood addiction, anorexia, or
self-mutilation. Perhaps even more taboo is talking about our own
mental health problems and how they affect our children. How often do
adults with borderline personality disorder, for example, go for help
so they can stop abusing their children?
It seems it’s okay to talk about mental illness as long it is
next door and not in our own home. But this week is as good as any to
get comfy learning about, talking about, and doing something about
mental health concerns in our families and communities.
Families are often remiss to address the reality of mental
health in children and teenagers because we may not want to believe
there is “something wrong” with our child. We may fear dangerous
medications or polarizing labels. But progress in the mental health
field has come a long way, and there is no reason to deny the supports
that exist for your child and family. If the problem is something like
anorexia or suicidal depression, then there definitely is “something
wrong” and the illness is often fatal. If your child exhibits harmless
quirks and peculiarities, there’s no need to see him as “sick” but a
support system can go a long way to helping him cope with or understand
his differences.
What’s Wrong With Me?
It’s sometimes more difficult to pinpoint problematic signs
with children and teenagers because many symptoms of mental health
concerns are symptoms of adolescence itself! According to Children’s
Mental Health Ontario, some of these signs include: poor grades, social
avoidance, frequent outbursts, loss of appetite, rebelling, insomnia,
worrying, mood swings, not caring about appearance/obsession with it,
self-injury, drinking, loss of interest in favourite activities.
You can see how it may be to differentiate the usual torments
of teenagers from sick ones. The CMHO advises parents to size up these
kinds of symptoms with the following criteria: intensity, persistence
over time, inappropriateness for the child’s age, and how much it
interferes with his or her life.
For example, not all girls who go on a diet are a red flag.
But if your eight year old girl refuses to eat for several months at a
time, obviously something is wrong.
Children with the most severe mental illnesses will show some
of the following signs: distorted thinking, excessive anxiety, odd body
movements, abnormal mood swings, overly suspicious, and seeing or
hearing things that others don’t.
At the end of these section blurbs, you’ll find a
number of helpful resources on children’s mental health.
Some Mental Health Challenges for Families
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is the health complaint in America, affecting nearly
everyone at some point. While mild anxiety is a normal emotion, there
are manifestations of anxiety that interfere with normal life, or are
severe enough to be debilitating, as seen in Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder. According to Dr. William Goldman at keepkidshealthy.com,
“Anxiety is a subjective sense of worry, apprehension, fear and
distress. Often it is normal to have these sensations on occasion, and
so it is important to distinguish between normal levels of anxiety and
unhealthy or pathologic levels of anxiety. The subjective experience of
anxiety typically has two components: physical sensations (e.g.,
headache, nausea, sweating) and the emotions of nervousness and fear.
Anxiety disorders, when severe, can affect a child's thinking,
decision-making ability, perceptions of the environment, learning and
concentration. It raises blood pressure and heart rate, and can cause a
multitude of bodily complaints, such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain,
ulcers, diarrhea, tingling, weakness, and shortness of breath, among
other things.”
Adolescent anxiety is a given; life is strange and kids are
facing eventual autonomy. A supportive family life, bolstered by good
nutrition, boundaries, and responsibilities will go a long way toward
helping kids find their way. But there are social anxiety disorders
stemming from a deep fear of people; there is anxiety resulting from
medical illness such as hyperthyroidism, which “speeds” everything up:
there is anxiety induced from actual speed, or other drugs, both licit
and illicit; there is anxiety stemming from brain chemistry gone awry,
when the noradrenergic and serotonergic neural systems function
improperly; there is temporary anxiety, such as overwhelming grief and
fear after the death of a loved one; etc. etc. etc.
Keep the lines of communication open and talk frequently with
your children about their worries and fears. Some parental reassurance
always goes a long way, and you’ll be able to stay tuned to anxiety
that runs deeper. There are lots of therapies to help cope with
anxiety, and only some of them are medication. Many anxieties respond
well to meditation, routine, cognitive exercises, laughter, yoga,
talking therapy, sports, and friendship.
Depression
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, ten
percent of children aged six to twelve suffer from depression! Nearly
all teenagers undergo deep depression as well. It is normal to
experience depression as a response to personal loss, confusion,
disillusionment and disappointment, the inevitable loss of innocence
that adolescence entails, stress, and pressures of various kinds. It’s
vital to give kids space to feel sadness, while being right there to
offer unconditional love and support, too.
Don’t ever belittle a child’s response. He hasn’t had a
chance to “toughen up” or realize that there are genocides and wars
that are far more devastating than his unrequited crush. But when
should you worry?
As with most concerns, the severity of the symptom, the
duration, and the number of converging symptoms determines whether or
not you should worry. Don’t worry, for example, if your son cries at
Grandma’s funeral. But if he still refuses to eat or see friends three
months later, get help.
Look for these clues and cues: irritability, worthlessness,
guilt, changes in appetite, loss of interest in activities, recurring
thoughts of death, low self esteem, fatigue, sleep problems, change in
school performance, concentration problems, outbursts, crying,
substance abuse, and excessive fearfulness.
Many parents avoid getting help for childhood depression
because of the stigma and dangers of medication. You can tell your
health care professional your concerns- many depressions require only a
listening ear, professional guidance and encouragement, support, or
time to heal. You can try these methods before jumping into medication.
Ask your doctor what he or she thinks is best.
Suicide
Almost all teenagers fantasize or talk about suicide at some
point or another; mooning around to “wrist-slitting” music is a
favourite pastime of teens as they come to terms with life and death.
So how seriously should you take threats of suicide?
Pretty seriously. Suicide is the second highest cause of
death for young people age 10-24. It’s probably worth talking about
suicide before the topic comes up, especially if your child seems prone
to dark depressions. First Nations kids are at particular risk. Gay and
lesbian teens are FOURTEEN times as likely to attempt suicide than
straight kids. More than half of transgendered people attempt suicide.
More than a quarter of gay kids are told to leave home, making LGBT
children more likely to become homeless.
Kids are particularly vulnerable to impulsive suicide or
suicide ideation during times of personal and family conflict, such as
parental divorce, coping with death, romantic breakup, physical or
sexual abuse, emotional neglect, exposure to domestic violence,
alcoholism in home, and substance abuse.
It’s imperative that kids in these circumstances get help-
most won’t go and get it, so help them do so. This might mean facing
how some of your personal problems are impacting your children- getting
help yourself sets a great example and shows how much you value your
child.
While suicide is often impulsive, it is more often a process.
Some signs that the suicidal process is underway include: withdrawal,
loss of interest in favourite activities, difficulty concentrating,
neglect of personal appearance, changes in personality, sadness and
hopelessness, changes in eating patterns and sleep patterns, lethargy,
and symptoms of clinical depression.
Bipolar Disorder
Is your child depressed one day, and happy the next? Is she
goody two shoes and also flirtatious and coquettish at the same time?
Does she have poor self esteem, but also have tremendous confidence?
These seeming contradictions are the hallmark of bipolar
disorder.
Bipolar is a serious emotional disorder characterized by
intense mood swings. Veering dangerously between elation and
depression, this illness is formerly called manic depression. For some,
the ups and downs are so intense that they manifest in suicide attempts
on the one end of the pendulum, and psychotic breaks on the other.
If you or close friends or teachers have ever referred to
your child or teen as “troubled” or “emotionally unstable,” this is
often the kind of impression a bipolar sufferer gives to the world.
That’s a great cue to pick up a book or two on bipolar. Bipolar kids
are often diagnosed with depression- depression may be more obvious.
But that’s only half the puzzle. “Manic” is often missed because no one
complains about it- these emotions feel fantastic. In fact,
grandiosity, confidence, elation are all symptoms of mania. When
someone spends half their life feeling worthless, empty and hopeless,
they aren’t going to be aware of the danger in their “other side.”
Mania often means impulsivity, recklessness, and risk taking
behaviours. These may be of little concern to the person with bipolar,
but the consequences can be devastating. Drug abuse and sexual acting
out is common with bipolar disorder.
Bipolar people are often incredibly creative, and while it
may be hard for them to lead a conventional life, they are often
trailblazers in art, literature, and business. Manic qualities of
supreme confidence, risk-taking, and creativity are extremely desirable
in many fields. However, extreme episodes of mania are just as
dangerous as suicidal depression. The invincibility a manic person
feels is delusional, and the activities like sex and drugs that may
feel great at the time feel dirty and guilty later when they have come
down. Mania is, simply put, feeling very high. Depression is feeling
very low.
Many bipolars are treated for depression long before they
realize they are manic, too. And many resist treatment because they
don’t want their highs taken away from them. Unfortunate side effects
of stabilizing medication is a lessening of creativity: many medicated
bipolars lament the lack of emotional intensity that was important in
their art or poetry. But many feel that gaining control, focus, and
keeping a grip are a fair trade off. Bipolar disorder really does
require lifelong medicine to treat- it doesn’t go away, and it does get
worse over time. And it may be fine for a teenager to miss work because
he was out getting drunk; that will wear thin when he’s an unreliable
adult, taking off from work to go drinking because he had an impulse;
or makes inappropriate passes at coworkers. The instability means dire
consequences- many bipolars have problems keeping jobs, even though
they are often intelligent and personable. Their mood swings and
inexplicable behaviour is difficult for family to cope with; many
bipolars have a lifelong struggle with substance use and abuse. Worse,
suicide is extremely common among bipolars- about 15 to 20 percent end
their struggle at their own hand. Because mania is so empowering, it
may give depressive impulse the confidence to carry through- a deadly
combination.
Besides popping pills, helpful adjuncts to treatment include
consistency- keeping a routine and schedule; relaxation like yoga;
variety in life to avoid boredom; and talking therapy.
Eating Disorders
While all mental health issues are important, the seriousness
of anorexia makes it merit a special mention. Eating disorders are
horrifyingly common, and extremely sensitive issues that we can’t
ignore. No teenager is going to say, “hey, Mom, I have an eating
disorder.” The nature of the illness itself is secrecy and deception.
You may be surprised to learn that anorexia and bulimia are
the deadliest mental disorders. More people die from this mental
illness than any other, including bipolar disorder, whose skyrocketing
suicide stats grimly attest to the fact that bipolar can be a fatal
disease. About 20 percent of people with anorexia will die from it, and
some stats suggest that 5 to 10% will die within five years. More than
90% develop eating disorders during adolescence.
Many families who have heard of eating disorders may not
understand how severe and dangerous they are. They may not really know
the harm of “worry a little about weight,” especially if their child is
overweight and could stand to use a few pounds.
Anorexia and bulimia, however, are not healthy, positive
lifestyle changes. They are intense obsessions. Symbolically, the idea
of wasting away is often about not wanting to take up space in the
world, wanting to disappear, wanting to be in control, wanting to
punish oneself, wanting to purge oneself of poisonous emotions, or
wanting to deny ones basic humanity by denying food- the stuff of life.
Anorexia and bulimia are often but not always linked to sexual abuse,
but anyone can develop them.
There is much controversy about realistic body images in
fashion and celebrity iconography, and cultural obsession with thinness
definitely plays a role in the disorder. However, it seems you can’t
“catch” anorexia by looking at skinny role models unless it is already
latent. There may be a biological component to the disease. It is very
difficult to treat in mid to late stages, so it’s best to catch it
early and get the help your child needs. Not only are the psychological
components dangerous, but the consequence of starvation on health is
the same as it is in developing nations- severe malnutrition is often
deadly.
If you see some of the following signs in your child, you
need to address the issue immediately and get help: weight loss,
weighing several times a day, feeling fat even if thin, preoccupation
or obsession with food- knowing fat grams, calories of every food,
avoidance of social situations centred on food so no one can notice
strange habits, lying about weight or food eaten, insisting he or she
is not hungry, weird eating habits such as eating only one food at a
time, counting bites, or unusual arrangements on plate, abusing diet
pills and laxatives, health problems such as low blood pressure and
menstrual irregularity, and excessive exercise. It’s worth observing
whether your child is always “feeling nauseous” or disappearing after
eating. She may be throwing up.
The proliferation of “pro-ana” web communities is a scary
thing indeed. These sites are celebrations of “extreme anorexia” by
young men and women who come together to trade tips, “thinspirations,”
and suggestions for hiding habits from family and doctors. These sites
attest to the obsessive quality of the disease. Don’t Google pro-ana
unless you want to be severely disturbed- the pictures and stories are
terrifying. However, if this issue is affecting your family, it may be
important to know how serious the issue is.
Not in my Family!
Psychopathy
One of the most devastating realities for a parent is when
their precious bundle of joy turns out to be a psychopath. The topic of
psychopathic children is so controversial and taboo that desperate
parents have nowhere to turn for information or support. Many experts,
along with popular opinion, believe that “evil” children are made, not
born. Autism and schizophrenia were once blamed on bad mothering: we
know beyond a shadow of a doubt that these are biological diseases,
albeit ones with very emotional components. There is also much debate
over whether a child can be a psychopath, long considered a condition
that develops over adulthood, a condition that can be stopped with
generous helpings of love and tender care.
A psychopath is not synonymous with killing. A psychopath is,
quite simply, a person “without a soul.” That is, if you define “soul”
as “conscience.” A psychopath does not feel emotions the way most
people do. Research is pouring in on the psychopathic brain- a profile
of easy confidence, above average intelligence, inability to process
empathic emotions, and brilliant mimicry abilities, which come in handy
as the psychopath learns to mimic the emotions he is supposed to be
having. A psychopath can’t process another’s pain or joy. Feelings are
completely alien to him, and not because he “hasn’t learned to express
them.” He doesn’t have them. His brain is not equipped with feeling
centres, if you will. If he has any emotions, they are rage, hate and
sexual desire, the most primitive ones. His brain is wired for impulse,
stimulation, risk, and personal gratification.
No one wants to acknowledge the grim possibilities that their
child may be (or grow up to be, under old theory) a psychopath. But
this category has been included here, at the exclusion of dozens of
mental health diagnostic categories, for one reason only: numbers.
Anorexia is considered epidemic, for example, with stats hovering over
3%. But the picture emerging shows that about four people out of 100
are psychopaths. Expert Robert Hare places the stats around 1%- which
is already one person per two or three classrooms. More and more
experts are siding on the higher estimate. There is no cure, but
behaviour modification programs are making successful strides in
steering psychopaths away from crime.
Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, “for
people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, obsession creates a maze of
persistent, unwanted thoughts. Those thoughts lead them to act out
rituals (compulsions), sometimes for hours a day.”
Frequent, familiar symptoms are ones we’ve all seen in the
movies, and ones we all have to varying levels: persistently checking
if we’ve locked a door or turned off the oven; counting, arranging, or
relentless washing. These rituals exist to relieve us of an anxiety-
for example, a fear of germs or burglary. But for the OCD sufferer, the
ritual only relieves the anxiety for a second, which is why they might
wash their hands or check the lock a thousand times.
The CMHA explains, “OCD occurs when worries become
obsessions, and the compulsive rituals so excessive, that they dominate
a person's life. It is as if the brain is a scratched vinyl record,
forever skipping at the same groove and repeating one fragment of
song.”
As most disorders, OCD was once thought to be planted by bad
mothering, creating such a debacle of insecurity through her glaring
omissions or poor nurture. Now we know there is a neurological basis
for the disorder. There is some connection to “pediatric autoimmune
neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections,”-
how’s that for a mouthful? Antibodies from strep affect the brain,
resulting in tics, compulsive counting, fear someone will be harmed,
excessive hand-washing, and more. (Harvard Mental Health Letter, Dec.
2004.) While these symptoms often disappear weeks or months after the
infection is gone, they give an important clue into the biology of OCD.
The disorder definitely runs in families, and brain imaging shows
unusual activity in the basal ganglia region of the brain, the same
region that is affected by the strep antibodies!
Mild cases of OCD are merely extensions of thought patterns
we all have. It is prudent to worry. Obsessive worry, however, disrupts
one’s life, to varying levels. Some sufferers of OCD simply triple
check everything important, being extremely careful. Others spend hours
a day on their rituals, or cannot function at all in ways considered
“normal.”
There is no known cure thus far for OCD, but cognitive
treatment, focusing on relearning behavioural patterns and dealing with
stress are very helpful. For many, symptoms are entirely eradicated
with medication. Many children who exhibit OCD tendencies completely
grow out of the symptoms, since the brain, habits, behaviour, and
hormones are constantly transforming and transitioning. A mortal fear
of germs or unusual counting rituals to comfort can disappear
completely overnight.
That said, it is vital that parents and other siblings
realize that the behaviour is not something a child can just “get over”
or snap out of by trying harder. He’ll need help and guidance and
support to cope.
“Even young children often know that their obsessions are
senseless, but they are helpless to stop themselves. Compulsive rituals
can consume hours a day and interfere with household chores,
schoolwork, and normal play. If children try to avoid the situations
that provoke the behavior, their lives may become increasingly
restricted. As a result, they may become demoralized, and their
development may be interrupted,” the Harvard Mental Health Letter (Dec.
2004) reported. “It afflicts 2%–3% of
Americans, and between one-third and one-half of them are under 15. The
symptoms may appear as early as age three.”
Does your child have something to worry about? Look for these
symptoms, but remember, if symptoms are mild and don’t increase, and
they don’t interfere with a child’s growth or happiness, don’t freak
out. Check in with your doctor, but if your child is not distressed,
there is nothing wrong with having unusual routines. Do remember,
however, that OCD usually begins to manifest in adolescence, and while
your child may grow out of it, he may also grow into it.
Keep your eyes open for the following symptoms, and check in
with your mental health care professional if your child exhibits any,
especially if he exhibits several and they are severe: fear of
contamination or germs; fear of harming self or others; intrusive
sexual or violent thoughts; fear of losing needed items; obsession with
order and symmetry; too much attention to rituals involving lucky
things (or unlucky); excessive double checking of locks and switches,
etc; constantly seeking assurance that loved ones are safe; counting,
tapping, repetition; excessive washing and cleaning; accumulating too
much useless junk.
Borderline Personality
Disorder
When a family member has Borderline Personality Disorder,
home life is absolute chaos. If that family member is a parent, it is
highly likely he or she will deny the issue, and reject any
responsibility for the abuse he or she perpetrates, claiming to be the
victim instead. For this reason, it is extremely difficult to treat
BPD- clients have to accept that there is a problem, and be willing to
work on it. The effect on children of BPD parents is often grim-
lifelong instability, mood or personality disorders of their own, poor
coping mechanisms, and the aftermath of abuse such as low self esteem.
The chaos of BPD makes it one of the most difficult mental illnesses to
live with, and horrible patterns of abuse and interdependency wreck
havoc on ordinary lives. If you or your partner are prone to
“outbursts,” hysterical rages, extreme emotional instability, fear of
abandonment, substance abuse or other reckless behaviour, and suicidal
ideation, you may have BPD, and you may not know how deeply your
behaviour can scar your spouse and children. It is one of the most
difficult mental illnesses to live with, as sufferers generally refuse
treatment, and medications are frequently ineffective, an enigma when
they are so effective in other disorders like bipolar or anxiety.
If your child has BPD, it is likely that home life is a
living hell for you. If your child’s behaviour is so unpredictable,
raging one moment and in crisis the next; if he or she is explosive and
volatile; if he or she exhibits emotional instability and terror of
abandonment, he or she may have BPD.
Many professionals are reluctant to diagnose children or
teens with BPD because their personality is not yet fixed. Yet this
disorder is one that a victim often “grows out of”…if he or she does
not commit suicide before that maturity has a chance.
A child having a temper tantrum is actually a great analogy
for the borderline. Like a toddler, she is terrified of being left
alone or abandoned; she wants her own way; she behaves with
recklessness and a self-absorbed world view. Borderlines often function
extremely well in everyday life- their illness is usually only visible
to their closest family. They act out only on those they love most.
Outsiders see them as charming, intelligent, and attractive, often
thinking YOU have the problem for assuming they do. This is because
borderlines are only threatened by and abuse people close to them,
people they are terrified of losing.
But for those loved ones, living with a borderline is a
nightmare. The borderline may even go so far as to make up sexual abuse
stories and other victim mythologies, which has created hell for many
families. This is because the BPD is like a frightened, manipulative
child who can’t always distinguish between reality and a bad dream.
The difficulty in diagnosing BPD in adolescents is simply
that many of the symptoms are symptoms of being a teenager! A 35 year
old mother acting like a 12 year old is easier to spot than a 12 year
old acting like a 12 year old. Consider the symptoms, and you’ll see
how problematic diagnosis can be: unstable personal relationships that
veer between ideation and devaluation- “you’re perfect, you’re my best
friend/you’re a backstabber, I hate you”; impulsive behaviours;
identity disturbance; chronic emptiness; intense relationships with
many conflicts; fear of abandonment; hating loved ones; cutting and
other forms of self-injury; threatening suicide or suicide attempts,
especially to control the behaviour of family members, or express pain;
mood swings; rage; substance abuse; dissociation- often “spaced out” or
in a “trance.” Borderlines have no personal boundaries and don’t
respect yours- they may snoop, listen in, act inappropriately sexual,
leave the bathroom door open, and other bizarre behaviours. This is
because they have no defined sense of self or perimeter. They feel as
if they have no identity, so they adopt identities, like playing
Hollywood roles.
Treatment is challenging, but the most successful to date has
been in dialectic behaviour therapy, which teaches patients positive
ways to deal with negative emotions. If a patient does not want help
for borderline, she may be happy to be treated for “depression,” and
that alleviate some pieces of the distressing puzzle.
It is imperative for family members to get support if their
loved one won’t go for help. Dealing with the fallout from abuse, the
constant chaos, means a poor prognosis for a bright future. If you
believe your spouse has BPD, get the kids to a support group. If your
child is deeply troubled and nothing will help, it is all you can do to
help yourself. It can be challenging to live with a sick loved one, but
families of borderlines can literally lose their minds. There are
excellent books and seminars to help families cope with this terrifying
disorder.
All kinds of mental health challenges like depression and
schizophrenia mingle families and person with illness together; but it
is NEVER recommended that family members and BPDs attend the same
treatment, support group, or even online resources. BPDs who “read
about themselves” become extremely distressed and experience betrayal;
they often attribute the illness to you instead. It is very upsetting
for them to read about themselves, resulting in histrionic outbursts or
psychotic episodes. This makes it a very isolating disease for both the
victim and the loved one. No one is sure where borderline comes from-
it is often triggered by real or imaginary abandonment, and is centred
around this theme. But many borderlines are raised in loving, even
indulgent families, so this is not always the case.
Schizophrenia
Perhaps no mental illness is as stigmatized or as
misunderstood as schizophrenia. Sadly, some circles still attribute
schizophrenia to archaic ideas like demon possession or bad mothering.
Delusions and hallucinations can be frightening to people with
schizophrenia; but medication is not always an easy solution, because
others find their illusions comforting. The average age of onset for
men is around 25, and women, 30. Childhood onset under the age of ten
is extremely rare. Thus, most of the 1% of our population with
schizophrenia are adults. However, it’s prudent to be informed of the
symptoms and signs as schizophrenia is possible in children and teens,
and it is devastating. Today’s emphasis of study is on prevention, so
learning about the disease is helpful to all families.
As with all mental disorders, symptoms overlap. “Lagging
motor or speech skills,” for example, is one early indicator of
schizophrenia, but can also indicate autism and a broad range of
developmental problems- or it may simply be the child’s pace. However,
when broad symptoms are grouped together, a clearer picture emerges.
Watch for attention deficit, speech impediments, memory problems,
difficulty reasoning, inappropriate, or flattened, expression of
emotion, poor social skills, and depression. Any of these can indicate
serious problems ranging from ADD to developmental disabilities. But
the most telltale signs of schizophrenia are peculiar beliefs and
delusions: for example, the idea that others can read his or her mind-
or that she can read the minds of others; rambling, dissociated speech;
strange speech patterns; paranoid ideas that others are out to get him
(including classic paranoia like being followed, or being stalked by
the FBI, cameras, etc.); deterioration of personal hygiene; suspicion
and hostility; irrational statements, extreme religiousness; magical
illusions (seeing God, evil spirits, angels, unicorns, aliens. etc.)
If your child shows interest in close personal relationships
and friendships, even if he navigates them poorly or has fewer than
other children, he or she is not likely schizophrenic.
While this disease is misunderstood, and its origins are not
known, much of the fear around it comes from the idea that this
diagnosis is the “real” crazy. Too much literature and TV gives the
idea that schizophrenic people are violent criminals, or go nuts and
kill people. Some do- it’s extremely rare. Crime or violence are far
more common among people with ordinary psychosis, borderline
personality disorder, and psychopathy.
Helpful Resources
Young Women’s Health
An extensive collection of “health information for teen girls
around the world.” Made possible through the Children’s Hospital of
Boston, this site covers a lot of ground on hundreds of topics. A very
few include abnormal pap smear, abstinence, peanut allergies, braces,
body piercing, abusive relationships, menstrual cramps, gluten-free
diet, cholesterol, friendship, smoking, cyberbullying and more. Do your
teen girl a favour and bookmark this for her. That way, she’ll have a
place to go to learn about anything she’s too embarrassed to talk about
right away.
www.youngwomenshealth.org
Attention Deficit
Disorder
“CH.A.D.D. Canada is a charitable organization that aims to
help support, educate, and ultimately better the lives of individuals
with ADHD, and those who are for them.”
www.chaddcanada.org
ADD support groups across Canada
http://www.adders.org/canadamap.htm
Alberta Association of
Sexual Assault and Abuse
http://www.aasac.ca/txt-fact-sexual-assault-abuse.htm
Pandora’s
Project
an online support group for survivors of rape and
sexual abuse
http://www.pandys.org/
National
Eating Disorder Information Centre
An extremely helpful and informative site which
does not leave out boys and men, who do suffer from eating disorders
and abuse of testosterone or anabolic steroids in order to achieve
physical perfection. Lots of stats, support, news, and ways to get
involved.
http://www.nedic.ca/
416-340-4156
Canada Drug Rehab
This site lists rehab for drug addiction, but has a
cross-country listing of treatment centres for eating disorders as
well.
http://www.canadadrugrehab.ca/Eating-Disorder-Treatment.html
Parents for Children’s
Mental Health
“PCMH is a voluntary group of parents dedicated to helping
families and improving mental health services in Ontario. We are a
non-profit, provincial, parent run organization that provides a voice
for children and their families who face the challenges of mental
health problems in Ontario. We work with the families, the general
public, mental health professionals and agencies, and government to
provide education, support and advocacy.”
www.pcmh.ca
Canadian Mental Health
Association
General information on mental health, with helpful tips on
handling and assessing kids’ misbehaving; self-esteem; support during
family breakups, and helping kids face fear.
www.cmha.ca
Bipolar Disorder
Information from the National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-children-and-teens-easy-to-read/index.shtml
Child and Adolescent
Bipolar Foundation
This foundation is American, so listings of helpful
professional contacts will be moot for Canadian families, but there is
a tremendous wealth of information and support useful to anyone.
www.bpkids.org
Psychopathy
Resources to support or educate families raising these
unfortunate children are limited. If your child has exhibited unusual
signs that other people’s pain doesn’t matter to him or her, consult a
professional. In the meantime, there are a few sites, mostly about the
phenomenon among adults.
News article:
“Destined as a psychopath? Experts seek clues, and researchers hope to
identify at-risk kids and modify antisocial behavior”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30267075/
The Childhood
Psychopath: Bad Seed or Bad Parents? by Katherine Ramsland
This lengthy article is lengthy and very informative; however
it is sensational and goes in for as many gory details as possible.
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/psychology/psychopath/1.html
The Mask of Sanity, by
Hervey Cleckley
This book is out of print, however it is available free in
pdf format online. Just Google it.
Kids Health
A giant portal of information on everything from STDs to
self-injury by cutting. Covers expert advice, school and jobs, drugs,
and all aspects relating to a teen’s health or mental health.
www.kidshealth.org
Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder
http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/ocd.html
Schizophrenia
All about schizophrenia, with free courses, and family
support.
www.schizophrenia.ca
Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health
CAMH is a terrific resource with supportive
programs for all mental illnesses. There are frequent family nights,
information seminars, and various programs for everything from
addiction to bipolar disorder. Many consider CAMH the first stop in
caring for or educating on mental health in Canada.
www.camh.net
Mood
Disorders Association of Ontario
Info resources and support circles for
depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. Includes Family Phone
Support Tuesdays, from noon to eight pm. Call 416-486-0411.
http://www.mooddisorders.on.ca/
Depression
Canada
Information about depression.
http://www.depressioncanada.com/
Children’s
Mental Health Ontario
http://www.kidsmentalhealth.ca/
In particular, this helpful page has quick access for parents
to look up signs, symptoms, fact sheets for anxiety disorders, ADD,
autism, eating disorders, mood disorders, depression, and more.
http://www.kidsmentalhealth.ca/parents/resources_parents.php#Signs%20of%20Mental%20Health%20Problems
Kid’s Help Phone
Kid’s Help Phone offers anonymous, confidential counseling 24
hours a day. Kids who don’t feel able or ready to talk can touch base
online.
www.kidshelpphone.ca
1-800-668-6868
Parents and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays
“Every day, PFLAG Canada volunteers are contacted by
frightened adolescents and by angry, fearful or ashamed parents. PFLAG
Canada supports, educates and provides resources to anyone with
questions or concerns. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
www.pflagcanada.ca
Borderline
Personality Disorder
Randi Kreger is one of the foremost authorities
writing about BPD. Her books help family members survive the trauma of
loving a borderline. This online resource has extensive articles, as
well as personal testimonies. Most importantly, it has several support
centres to connect with others suffering a BPD family member or friend.
These support circles can be all women, all men, children of
borderlines, parents of borderlines, or just general. Invaluable.
http://www.bpdcentral.com
Borderline
Personality Clinic at CAMH
http://www.camh.net/About_CAMH/Guide_to_CAMH/Addiction_Programs/Concurrent_Disorder_Service/BDP_clinic.html
This is a very sparse listing of the many online
and clinical support for families learning about or dealing with mental
health concerns. Your library can provide you with dozens of helpful
books; your doctor can direct you to support; and Googling any concern
will bring up a wealth of various ideas and resources. The most
important thing you can do to help your kids’ mental health is remove
the taboo and be willing to learn along with them about any concern the
family has- whether it is your child’s disorder or yours. |
