LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL Work is underway to open a new 75-bed Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre
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anice Kirkrod and Joyce Kubuwas changed, and then increased three Haynes have never met, but they years later. share similar stories. Both in their “My podiatrist had come to my home, 70s, they are regularly out and about, and she realized there was something visiting with family and friends and that wasn’t right,” says Joyce about a generally enjoying life. For setback that resulted in a month-long years, both have also been stay in hospital in 2014. treated for mental illFor her part, Janness. ice suffered from Joyce, who lives in severe depression Coquitlam, says in her mid-40s. With my close it started with She had little friends, it’s just a anxiety attacks energy and cried part of my life. I like when she was often. “I’ve been my life right now. 30. “They through quite were bad,” a few medical -Janice Kirkrod she rethings in my life, members. like cancer,” she “I went to says. “But desee my docpression is the worst thing you have to tor, and he go through. It’s just simply horrible.” said I should Medications did not seem to work for be in the hos- her, and the Surrey resident credits pital.” electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for her She would recovery. Janice underwent several eventually be ECT treatments in the 1980s and then diagnosed with again in the 90s when her symptoms schizophrenia. returned. After her initial “I’m not saying those ECT treatments stay in hospital, are a picnic,” says Janice. “But yes, I Joyce managed did get better.” for years with Over the years, both Janice and Joyce the help of her have come under the care of Dr. Hem medications. Phaterpekar, a geriatric psychiatrist But she was at Royal Columbian Hospital. He says again hossetbacks like the ones experienced by pitalized in Joyce and Janice are to be expected 2011 after her when managing significant psychiatric husband’s illnesses. death. Her “These are no different from diabetes prescription or heart problems or lung problems,
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Janice Kirkrod receives regular follow up care at Royal Columbian Hospital following a depression that started in her 40s.
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