How Ontario Shores is Changing the Face of Mental Health

How Ontario Shores is Changing the Face of Mental Health

Thirteen-year-old Jessica was a vibrant and active teenager before her life took a drastic turn. An enthusiastic dancer with a closeknit group of friends and no prior mental health issues, Jessica’s life was turned upside down due to severe anorexia nervosa.

Since 2009, the Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health has been supporting mental health and recovery at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores).

Ontario Shores' patient-centred programs guide young people like Jessica in their journeys to recovery and provide support for families living with complex mental health challenges.

JESSICA’S STORY

Following a concussion just before the COVID-19 lockdowns, Jessica consulted a naturopath who advised eliminating sugar, gluten, and dairy from her diet. This dietary change initially made her feel better, but Jessica's world then contracted as the lockdowns began in March 2020. Deprived of dance, friends, and family gatherings, she slipped into a depressive state, seeking control through stringent diet and exercise routines. Her focus shifted from health to an obsession with being skinny. By the fall, she was severely restricting her diet, counting calories obsessively, and displaying alarming physical symptoms such as dizziness and weakness.

“There's a lot of misinformation about anorexia, but it's not something people do to get attention,” explains Dr. Neal Anzai, Medical Director of the Eating Disorders Unit at Ontario Shores.

“Usually, the story you get is that kids try to be healthier. But for some kids, it gets to the point where then it becomes obsessive. It becomes the force that organizes their whole life, and they have to just eat less, lose more weight, and they lose all perspective.”

A visit to her family doctor revealed the extent of Jessica's weight loss, and she was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa. Despite the diagnosis, Jessica resisted therapy. Her refusal to eat escalated to the point where her parents had to take her to a hospital, where she was deemed medically stable and thus “not sick enough” for immediate intervention. This only fueled her disorder.

For two agonizing weeks, Jessica’s parents fought to get her to eat, but her condition continued to deteriorate. Eventually, a life-threatening incident prompted an emergency hospital visit, where her critically low blood sugar and heart rate underscored the urgency of her situation. She was finally admitted to a specialized program in Toronto but continued to struggle with consistent relapse and resistance to treatment.

THE TURNING POINT: ONTARIO SHORES' EATING DISORDERS UNIT

Desperate to find help for their daughter, Jessica’s parents turned to Ontario Shores’ Eating Disorders Unit (EDU)—and with the support of Ontario Shores’ trained and sensitive staff, Jessica’s road to recovery finally began.

Ontario Shores' EDU is the only specialized unit for adolescents with eating disorders in Ontario, providing a comprehensive, interprofessional model of care focused on recovery and rehabilitation. The EDU features a 12-bed inpatient unit designed to support adolescents aged 12-17 with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or related eating disorders. The unit emphasizes individualized care, incorporating various therapies, including individual, group, and family therapy, psychoeducation, meal support, nutrition rehabilitation, and treatment for co-morbid disorders. Additionally, the unit includes a kitchen, dining room, lounge area, and spaces for therapy, creating a supportive and home-like environment.

Parent and family involvement is crucial to the EDU’s clinical programming, as existing support systems play a huge role in ongoing, sustainable recovery. Adolescents also have access to educational support during their stay, helping them keep up with their studies despite their health challenges.

REVOLUTIONIZING CARE AND RECOVERY

Jessica’s initial days at Ontario Shores were fraught with resistance and fear. Her condition was one of the worst the staff had seen, necessitating around-the-clock monitoring. Despite her severe physical and mental state, the dedicated team at Ontario Shores, including nurses, therapists, and clinicians, worked tirelessly to build trust and rapport with Jessica.

“Often, we have to employ very intensive treatment,” says Dr. Anzai. “It's not just being medically stable, it's getting them to learn how to eat normally and maintain that. It's teaching the parents how to help them with that. It's also getting them through this process of gaining the weight without panicking and then stopping their eating again.”

Over time, Jessica began to engage with the structured routine and therapeutic activities. She participated in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), group therapy, and one-on-one sessions. Slowly, she started eating according to her meal plan, and her physical health

improved. The emotional support and logical approach of the staff played a crucial role in her recovery—especially the relationship she developed with one clinician in particular, Deanna Fetter. Deanna not only provided therapy but also acted as an advocate and mentor for Jessica. Her holistic approach, which included family therapy and engaging Jessica in therapeutic activities like boxing, helped Jessica channel her energy positively and rebuild her self-esteem.

A BRIGHTER FUTURE

After seven months at Ontario Shores, Jessica was ready to return to her home life.

By November 1, 2021, Jessica was discharged from Ontario Shores, having made remarkable progress. She resumed her studies, joined her school’s rugby team, and returned to dancing. Now 16, the tools and resilience she developed at Ontario Shores continue to guide her journey.

“Ontario Shores saved our daughter,” shares Jessica’s parents. “If there hadn’t been this program for a 13-year-old, I hate to think what would have happened.”

The Ontario Shores' Eating Disorders Unit is a critical resource for teenagers like Jessica, providing the comprehensive care necessary for recovery. In collaboration with Kinark Child & Family Services, Ontario Shores is revolutionizing care through their communitybased Outpatient Adolescent Eating Disorders Service. This partnership aims to bridge the gap between hospital and community care, ensuring sustained treatment and recovery for youth struggling with eating disorders.

However, the demand for such services far exceeds the available resources, highlighting the need for continued support and increased access to these programs. Generous donor support can help expand these vital services, providing teenagers like Jessica with the opportunity for recovery and a brighter future.

Help change the face of mental health. Donate today by visiting facesofontarioshores.ca