THE WAY IT COULD BE – Age Twenty Three

Mom and Dad (who was much better then) talked with me about what they saw going on.
They persuaded me to go to the family health centre to see the same doctor who had been
monitoring my medication ever since I first got sick. He arranged for my admission to the
local acute-care (Schedule 1) hospital for a short stay during which a psychiatrist from the
city adjusted my medication. I also went every day to an educational program where I
learned new skills to cope with my symptoms better. They didn’t go away completely but my
condition improved fairly quickly.
When I got out of hospital I was referred to the town’s satellite office of a provincial mental
health program where I established regular contact with a case manager who helped me
apply for a disability (ODSP) allowance. I continued to see the psychiatrist on her regular
visits to town. My case manager also arranged a regular ride to the city for me where I went
to a skills training program twice a week. I got a new apartment and, after a while, with the
help of an employment support worker I got a part-time job in town to supplement my
ODSP cheque.