Yapping Of A Canadian Mutt

Open Guilt Wound of Motherhood

2010-09-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

Now on the the motherhood guilt that has caused open sores that I am still applying cream to. The medical profession place little importance to the under lying guilt that is implied during fact finding history. Most mothers know that they’re not being directly name as a cause, but I will tell ya it sure does smart! Then in most illness everyone is always trying to define that moment, trigger, that started this giant sickness ball the roll. As parents and mothers we want to find that weak link and fix it.

The sad true fact is most illness can’t be defined as one moment, one trigger, there usually is a number of factors. Thus the reason for the extensive pre-history in mental illness cases. Now I will go through some of these questions with you.

Any birth and pregnancy trauma? As a mother I don’t know how you Can Not , feel this guilt bomb at our feet. I struggled with if I didn’t have children too close,would that have made a differences. I could have held off on the early delivery, maybe I should have taken the pills that made me feel awful, so I could control the premature labour. Rested more. Did you stuff from any kind of depression and anxiety during or after pregnancy? Anyway you look at it birth and pregnancy is all MOMs and mom’s alone.
Any family history of mental illness and learning difficulties? Yes not only I am to blame but now both sides of the family are too. Oh why didn’t we think of Uncle Joe Bob’s crazy days, when deciding to have kids.
Any head injuries? Oh my there was the time she was skiing and I didn’t take her to hospital because I thought she was ok. Maybe I shouldn’t have been worried about saving health care dollars and worrying most about my child-what an awful mom.
Any sudden change in behaviour, mood, trouble at school, trouble with law? Yes, yes,yes,yes,geesh why didn’t I see this as a mom. I mean I only have two kids. Everyone passed it off as hormonal, bad groups of friends, or a phase she’ll go out of. Why didn’t I listen to my gut, it was screaming at me this isn’t right, get it fixed now. If I had gone to see doctor could they have found the problem. I know the school wasn’t going well maybe I could have changed approaches.
Any pot and alcohol abuse? Here is the deepest cut. All my friends and myself did pot and we did have break downs. How do you keep that stuff away from kids, I remember when I was 12, we all stole our parents booze or pooled money together to buy booze. If we wanted it we could get it? The doctor replied, my kids don’t do it, get them involved with sports. OH MY GUILT, open wound bleeding all over the floor.

Now that is only the really first stages of the guilt you encounter when your child has mental illness. Soon after you will accept that many of these event you couldn’t control, but then as you watch your child before, who is the same child, but lost in an illness. Lost is that little girls who laughed, who played dresses up, who charmed the crowds, now she hides in the house, doesn’t register any emotion, and is afraid to be in public. Guilt it eats at you. I have to be able to fix this. If I try real hard she will get better.

Oh there is no harder working mother than one working towards making their child better. I lived breathed and existed souly to get my daughter healthier, to promote mental health, and preached to other parents so they knew the risk of teenage mental health.

As the years and months go by another GUILT MONSTER appears, this one by the hypocrites of government and the well meaning support of members around you and family, who are struggling to understand.

Well Played Guilt Hand of Motherhood.

2010-09-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

On the first, precious day you hold the most beautiful perfect child in our arms. You are filled with amazement and wonder at the creation of life. As a mother you can`t help it but to look upon that small face, with determination say,“ I will be the best mom I can be.“

We all try to be The Best Moms, we know how. During the process, we dart from accusing daggers our friends shoot at us, the bountiful, mindful advice professionals give us, and the constant loving advice from family.

Why is this even a part of motherhood,because your motherhood effectiveness is evaluated on the performance of your children.

Good Children= Good Parents The Motherhood Hand of Guilt

Yipee! for me because I have the most willful free-spirit child that ever existed. Yes personally I love a challenge but somedays I believe neither one of us wins. One super big failure for motherhood coming up. Score 5 for the willful 2 year old.

“Have you tried this– dear– it worked on your brother, when he was having a hard time.“

“All that kid needs is a good spank on the backside, that worked for you, and it worked for me, and we all came out right“

Raising children of the 21st century; spanking was Taboo, and corporal punishment outlawed, and parents who disobey these laws are labeled bad parents with future messed up (dysfunctional) children.

Motherhood Hand of Guilt

Now I am not going to say it is wrong or right, but what these laws did was take away the traditional ways society, communities, and family raised children. Old saying , “ it takes a community of people to raise a child.“

A mother who was raised on traditional punishment, now was brainstorming and learning new ways to dish out the punishment. A community Grandfather would kicked kids in the arses if they defaced his property, now can`t because he`ll be charge. A society that is shut down from— dishing any punishment to children run free and unsupervised.

When my son was about 3-4 years old I was in a losing battle. If I choose the corporal punishment, this child`s butt would have been daily red from my hand print, and I would have been charged. So I had to learn a new way of parenting and quickly.

The new method was natural and logical consequence. So I spent the next year in a parenting group learning how to effectively parent. I was very proud of my new parenting skills. I really thought this parenting plan would work. Life is full of natural and logical consequences.

4 yr old won`t wear his winter mitts outside.

Logical- cold fingers =willingness to wear mittens.

But MOTHERS shouldn`t let their children face these truths, no we should step in. Children should be allowed to make chooses that could harm them.

“Mrs Dambrowitz, your son says he doesn`t have to wear mitts if he doesn`t want to.“

“ Well yes this is true, place his mitts in pockets and before you know it he will be wearing them.Little children has self preservation too. Cold fingers don`t feel good long before frost bite.“

“Oh Mrs. Dambrowitz, we can`t do this! The school will be liable if he gets frost bite, You have to fix this Mrs Dambrowitz. Or we will be forced to keep your son in at recess“

Number one rule to raising a child—- Punishment has to be consistent.

“Mrs. Dambrowitz, your son isn`t doing his homework. You have to make him do his homework“

“If he isn`t doing homework, and not behaving in class fail him, natural and logical reaction. If he had a job and didn`t show up prepared he would get canned. “

“OH I`m sorry Mrs. Dambrowitz , we don`t fail children in school anymore.“

When school polices don`t reflect your parenting methods no one wins. Daily life becomes a battle of wits. Parenting isn`t a glamorous job, but we can NOT lay all the blaime on the poor old parents.

At age pre-teens, children can make choices for themselves. I know this is true because at age 11, I made life choices for myself. You don`t have to be a product of your parents– parenting.

So stop blaimming the parents.

Bad Parenting doesn`t = bad parents.

Maybe the future will have parenting course taught in schools.

Personally I can say, “After raising two children, I don`t think MOM was a shining achievement of my life. Do I love my children. Hell ya .Does raising two children make me expert. HELL NO!! —I do know NOW that children need on-off switch and operating manual. Only then do I feel the playing field is equal. OH and open book test next time please.LOL“

The Aura-Borris of A Canadian Mutt's Mind

2010-09-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I had my first consilor meeting today. I can hear people in the background saying, "Now. Now. Don't be airing that laundry out in a blog."

I whisper back," It is ok, after child sexual abuse in the 70's, parents divorces in the 80's,marriage and my husband cancer in the 90's, family raising in the 20's, then in 2010's my daughter psychosis, and my son's right to change the family and marriage dynamics. Hey, I very proud. After all my life only needing consiling and not needing a rubber room or a casket."

I walk proudly into the consilor's office like a peacock showing off. Then I sat down refocused,watching the video playback in my mind. "Information for the curious minds-Behind closed consilor's door: for the ones on the brink of insanity."

You see this video is how the general public plus myself, who are unaware to The Mental Ill. Who is The Mental ill? Mentally ill people are people who from a psychical, social, relationship

,accident with trauma or by an illness, causes a person's mind to shut down in order to save the person . The mind personal way to give doctors a warning sign. So I ask ,"where is the embarrassment in that?'

As, my consiling sessions runs to a conclusions, an overwhelming realisation comes over me; consiling isn't for the faint in heart, nor is it for the hypocrite, or the ones with casting fingers, because consiling is all focused on you , how you can change and growth into a healthier stronger minded person.

"Yes it is true Dorthy, Only person who truly cares for all those around them, and their self will go to consiling appointments."

My appointment almost to a close and I'm proudly patting myself on the back. Very wise choice to come to the appoint. My very soul is basking in this self praise and adoration,when the consilor--- rrrrippes---- me into the surreal moment of now.

"Hump.... Now we have to improve upon one small item each week, so think and name a topic."

My personal thoughts scream out, Wow this consiling business is hard working stuff, now what is a topic that ticks me off. Motherhood Guilt. I hate this topic, so I blurt it out.

Driving home I am fairly pleased with myself, but then I get to thinking about this topic. Motherhood guilt; there is so many soft and vulnerable spots, then there is personal hot spots, and lastly there is the crushing reality of how you see yourself within the guilt. I smack myself are you crazy, you are going to make yourself a crying fool. So smug I am because I never cry, very rare.

Anyway,I have decided that I will share with everyone; the topics a family and mother encounter when their child suffers from a mental illness.

This Mutt Is Sick Of Taxes

2010-09-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

This average, run of the mill domesticated mutt, is so sick of paying, and donating, then only be told we still need more money for the coffer's. What a load of bull pooh! Listen to me, when your short in cash you eat KD for dinner not STEAK. This is what our Crazy Canadian Government officials, trustee, and social programs of money--- have forgot.

I'm a Canadian born-n'-raised mutt and very proud to be. Yes, I love my social programs, and I love paying taxes to support this programs----BUT, don't abuse and misses spend the hard earned money I make.

2010 was this Mutt's breaking point! I was sickened by homeless people littering my town, petty crime defacing and trashing my beautiful town, and night streets corners filled with

disrespect for the law, peeing on town streets, drug deals in hand, underage drinkers, and smokers. Young adult openly laugh at the law.

Grant Gaddy COPS will never put me away motherfucker's.

Friday at 3:03pm
this is a kid that has been in trouble with the law since 13......and he still has no fear??? What is wrong with our country.

That is how young adults feel, they can repeatedly do crap because over and over again,because they are allowed to. When will the mutts of Canada stand up and take our country back.

No we will not tolerate crime in our towns. Yes, we want the mentally ill off our streets in housing, and in treatment. Yes, we want all our addicts in treatment and also screened for a mental issue.

Until us Canadians stand up and demand what we want, our government will keep taking, crime will kept happening and the whole event just spiral and feed each other. What do they eat? Well this big fat crime monster is eating my tax money to the point, my parents will have to pay one day soon to see the doctor.

What's Your Point? You, Canadian Mutt!!

2010-08-23T12:56:00.000-07:00

People are always asking me why are you doing this? Why do I blog and write letters that will never be heard?

My statement is, “I want to stop the pain and suffering causes to families and create a proactive treatment plan for every mentally ill.”

But now my simple statement will be, “I want to create one ripple of change, faith will do the rest!”

People are always saying that I am a dreamer, and the real world doesn’t work the way I see it. To me dreaming is just the faith within ourselves to make a better world. The world you exist in.

The world within my house, my reality and my bubble. The world that shines around me as I am about my town,living life and loving what life has tossed my way.

LOVING HARDSHIP,because BE Damned if I will allow hardship to beat me, or turn my heart to COLD HARD OPPRESSION – that creates only hate.

People rant that they have no power to change the world, no power to change the masses and no power to make the world a better place. This makes me want to cry. Cry for –you have lost faith within yourself. When did we give this power away? When did we allow all the negative and despair to enter our lives.To me dreaming is just the faith within myself to make a better world. So I ask all of you out there why have you lost faith in humanity and yourself.

I want to ask if you tossed a stone into a pond would the ripples not fan out, and if you now tossed another stone, would the ripples not compound? Well I choose to believe that every deed and word I have done or spoken has not gone into this world without creating that ripple. Some people may have seen the ripple and wondered in it. They have place this in their memory banks for a recall at a later date. Another may have seen the ripple and was inspired to change a small aspect of their own life. Another may have join in to create their own ripples.

I choose to believe in the cosmic universal laws of cause and effect, and in change as an ever occurring event. I choose to believe that ever energy of word or thought, I give out creates a cause and effect.

There are so many one liners to support dreamers of dreams. Karma.You reap what you sow. World change begins with one small change within ones-self.So if this makes me a dreamer to you so be it, but also remember that my dreams also warm my heart with love and endurance.

I wondered does oppression warm your heart or does it feed your anger and despair?

Will Canada's Camel's Back Break?

2010-08-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

Every old grummpy man’s statement,” back in the day I remember when…..” Does each generation demoritalized so much that one has to wish for a return of similar days?

I spend the weekend nature camping. It reminded me of -” my Grampa’s simpler days.” I realized it isn’t the way of life that people long for, it is the meaning of life and the value of living enriched lives.

I was like everyone else blaming life’s trails on money, time, and demands of the go go go life style. Who is it ,that places this burden in our lives? Us, and we accept it. Why do we accept it?

We accept the pressure.It is normal to have run from our jobs to the numbers after school programs for our children. Because if we don’t, we are bad parents, we deny our children their right to- BETTER.

We gauge our success by what we can afford, the bigger house, the 2 vehicle yard, the seasonal toys ( boats, campers, four-wheelers and the 2 wheeler)and now a days the family vacation to destinations aboard.

Is BETTER worth it? Yes you can’t deny the family moments will have created memories that are priceless. My generation and me are banking on this. But then I look at the whole picture, how many of us didn’t have broken marriages? Over 90% of my graduating class has broken or failed relationships. How many of us have serious heath issues? How many of my friends died young? Is BETTER worth it.

Can there be a better way, to share family time and leave the pocket book at home? Have our own needs to afford BETTER, bite us in the @ss! When we asked for raises, who paid for them? Where did the money come from?

So employer raised prices to cover costs of wages, then the cost of product and inflation caused the purchase price to rise. WAIT A MIN—so I demand more money then prices go up. So I ‘am not making more, and I am no farther ahead.

I have to wonder what is the true cost of things? I wonder can the price of greed keep increasing or will it be the straw to break the camel’s back? I think my Grandfather’s dream for simpler days will come back, but at what cost? World clasps, global market crashed,and nations that are bankrupt? Greed or BETTER will have it’s end, what will mankind do after?

Junk- Yard Criminal Mutts Deserve No Rights!

2010-07-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

Have you heard?—- “A picture is worth a 1000 words." " All the proof was in the Photo. " " The Photo doesn’t lie.”

Well, our Canadian Mounted Police disagree with those statements. This Canadian Mutt , has some ( 20 +) pictures of three males plus minor using prescription medication to feed their personal drug addiction. This prescription medication is for the mentally ill, very expensive, and it is paid for by whom ( Medicare/ Gov’t). Canadian Taxpayers- pay for this medication, that thugs are stealing or using coercion to obtain. This coercion has to be proofed and it is mentally ill's word against the criminal bullies. Who will you bet on to win???

Chris Rak, 33 year old Junk- Yard Mutt Boyfriend

So here, we have the Junk-Yard Mutt, Boyfriend very pleased to be getting a cheap high. All paid for by government, and not enforced by law in anyway.

Taxpayers are now supporting drug dealers and users.

Are you happy about supporting this Maingy Mutt's drug habit?

Are you accepting that Statement given to me.” The law and police can do nothing about this?” Not until they find the medication on him personally.

What are we policing if not CRIME?

But, when I ask the police to go an arrest Chris Rak, the answer I get is." Sorry this photo isn’t enough proof."

So we have these 20 some pictures, a statement taken from my daughter back in April, that Chris Rak was selling her medication, but all that isn’t enough.

Well then I say, all this medication is regulated by government and drug stores. They have extensive records. Now he doesn’t drive so we have to check drug stores in area. Penticton to Osoyoos- Approx 35 stores. We have a time frame, the camera was bought at Xmas,so dates from Dec to April. If Chris Rak, doesn’t have any prescriptions with any drug store. Then why does he have some in these pictures, and why is he taking them? Yes, I have photos of him actually chocking back the pills. Is that not solid proof?

Where’s our fight against crime is in this country. Is Canada a safe haven for drug lords, and thugs. From watching my safe streets in Osoyoos turn into regular sites of crime. People openly drinking at beaches, parting on elementary school yards, pictures on facebook of Mutts peeing in the streets, and drug deals in alleys.

Why should CRIME have RIGHTS! I want the right to live in my town and know that thugs will be dealt with. What Rights do you want over CRIME.

Strong Canadian Mutts Living in the Wilderness of Life.

2010-07-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

Today is The Canadian Mutt's Anniversary today. I totally going to posture, the fact that my husband and I are still Happy Mates after 22 years.

“For the fates have tested us greatly, and the curses smiled against us, but we The Dambrowitz’s have victory and holding. Wining because losing just isn’t an option.’

As a Mutt Mates, we have built a home together, raised 2 children, suffered major cancer illness, moved across country, reno- a second house, survived teens, and now a child( 20 yrs old) with serious mental illness. So yes as a couple we’re worn, well broken in, very seasoned, but life has not shattered us. Everyone please step aside as I place my hands on my hips and do the peacock strut, while singing the song” I’m a survivor.”

With all the trails my marriage has had to face, I will admit the only thing that really endangered my marriage was our daughters mental illness. It placed such a large stressful strain on everyone in the family, that before long we were are physically exhausted and biting at each others throats. Not even the family pets are spared from the stress.

As a family that function as a close unit, now everything evolved around an illness—- But wait we did that one before when my husband suffered cancer. No this illness is different, because you to grief for the lost soul to your family. The most profound statement, ever made to me was, “I want the sister, I cherished. Back!!!- My real sister.” Specialist and myself, don’t know if that is possible. Today, I’m not even sure who are Princess is, or is suppose to be.

My husband and I are blessed to have his close family support, and our networks of friends. We dearly love and cherish our friends, but it is awful to see the torment on their faces, as they struggle to understand what we go through on a daily basis. Then we watch the division lines take a stand, as they struggle with the political human rights, and bureaucratic polices around mentally ill.

Well these friends are our support system. So now we can’t talk to our friends and family about what is haunting us night to day- Maybe of the rest of our lives!!!Now talk about an illness that is an explosive can of worms.And guess what it only gets worse.

Now the professional–here to help. Can they really say what they truly feel? No of course not! Yes we have all heard it whispered gag order–Not sure it exist! But it is a good line to hide behind.Personal agendas for service providers, and secret power struggles. There is so much division, and double talk among the professionals to give you whip lash.

But for today, I look at myself and my family and giggle. For the fates have tested us greatly, and the curses smiled against us, but we The Dambrowitz’s have victory and holding. Wining because losing just isn’t an option. That is What it is to be Strong Canadian Mutts Living in the Wilderness of Life.

A Canadian Mutt, Who is only a Mutt to all!!!

2010-07-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

The system doesn’t support us. It actually hangs Canadian families out to dry. It’s an estimated cost of $10,000.00 dollars a year to care for my daughter. A family with two incomes is now down to one. So this added care cost is being supported by one income family instead of 2. As the Mom provide, 24 hr care for our unstable, house bound, violent and very abusive mentally daughter?

By mom being nursemaid, and sole caregiver–she is saving. Everyone tax payers dollars and health care dollars!! So I apply for a tax credit, ( we have been denied X3) this will only lower the federal taxes we pay. Then I have to question this, if my daughter is sick enough to get a pension income, than why can I get a tax break for the same child? It isn’t like the government is going to give my family extra income for caring for our sick daughter. I know there is income credits given to parents that has a child suffering from disability, but this doesn’t happen for mentally ill.

Government Support! What a slap in the face!

Thank you Mrs Dambrowitz for saving Canada tax payers $$$,but we can NOT nor will we support you.

I have subjected my family’s lives to be abused and victimized, because no one wants to hospitalize, a mentally ill a person who is clearly unstable for the last 5 years? Not even us her family, we have tried to avoid hospitalization.

But who is suffering. Who is being used and abused. After 5 years of continuous unstableness,yelling screaming, suicide watch, no sleep and all days event are scheduled around the mentally ill person living in your house. Now I have had 5 years experience dealing with our daughters mental illness.I really don’t think I can look after her. The safest place for her is the Hospital.

So last month I asked the Doctor to place my daughter in hospital. In 5 years I have NEVER asked to hospitalize my daughter. Did the doctor respect me? Did anyone listen to me? Who supported me? NOT a single service nor government agency.

Now where is our daughter on the street, an endangerment to herself and others. I called the police and tell them this, their first response is if doctor didn’t put her in hospital, than police won’t either. So when she becomes another story in the news, remember I am the mother NO ONE LISTENED TO.

Lone wolf! A Cry in the Night!

2010-07-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

Here I sit in front of my computer screen, wondering has the rantings of a yapping Canadian Mutt Mother made a difference to you?

Lately, I don’t know what to write about. I just know raising a mentally ill daughter who dishes out more abuse then an abusive husband, has finally robbed my energy to fight. The last 5 years of unstable treatment plan, have finally robbed my hope.

I find it crazy that, I 'm living an abusive life, when I swore as a child, I would never live that way again. I choose my husband because I knew he would cherish me, and never raise a violent hand against me or our children. I wasn’t wrong–I have the most supportive, calm, rock solid, loving husband in the world, who is my best friend.

The one that is abusive is the our daughter, who is mentally ill. But these last two months, have shown me, we can no longer support our mentally ill daughter, nor allow her to live with us any longer.

I want all you parents out there to think about this. You have a sick daughter of 20.

Do you turn them away?

Do you live in an abusive situation, because you don’t want your sick child on the street?

Can you turn your back on this sick child?

Well, I have to do just that. I have asked for help from every bureau out there and every service provider. I have asked for legal advice. All systems have failed us. No one hears the cries of a Lone wolf!

So the images that have hunted my nights are the ones we don’t want to read about in the news. The crimes that are senseless with usually 100% PREVENTABLE, if laws, and medical treatment for mentally ill was Pro-Active.

100% Preventable if someone would listen. So my question is has this blog made a difference?

Where Does This Mutt Go?

2010-06-28T10:34:00.000-07:00

Well everyone it has been awhile since I last wrote a blog. Part of the reason is this Mutt is getting very bitter and resentful. Two qualities I have a hard time accepting within myself. Negative qualities that have no use but to tear a person down, but yet I am faced with seeing this qualities staring back at me, in my mirror image.

I have to wonder how long, have I been so neglectful of my own self. I'm, NOT the first Mothering Mutt that will deny my own care when it comes to the family unit, but when did I become so unaware of myself. When did I careless toss away the knowledge of wisdom? When did I stop hearing my own internal warning signs?

I heard all those Pack Mothers say," You need to look after yourself! You need to rest! You need to step back." This Mutt totally passed all of it off, by rationalizing to myself- I know me- I have my own warning system. I personally know when enough is enough.

But as I look into the mirror today I realized,-I didn't hear the warning bells! Even worse, I didn't see myself slipping into that muddy, cloudy water, that can quickly consume you. Leaving you to tired to fight for even your own breath. While your pups lay helpless, awaiting their champion to return. I remember growling and wanting to snap on everyone that told me," STOP! Care for yourself! "

My mind growled, "How can you ask me this when my daughter is sick, walking a dangerous line, and no one but me will step in to save her." This the point where your life comes crashing down. When you realize you are powerless to stop tragic events from happening. The point when every door you knocked at was slammed in your face.

I've been that Mutt, to mutter to a friend," You did the best you could. It wasn't your fault. You have to let your children experience life and make choices. We can't control events that are out of our hands." ---- What a load of smelly pooh. I feel so ashamed that this Mutt, believed those words could comfort and appease the heart of a grieving parent.

This Canadian Mutt, now understand what it feels like to be asked to accept failure: Failure of laws, systems,

and dis-function of society. I've arrived at the fork in the road. I tired all the roads, now where do I go?

Fork #1 I can no longer fight this battle without, serious mental and health fail out for myself

#2 I have to accept the changes (laws and polices) I desperately need and want for my daughter, won't happen to save her.

# 3 This is the hardest for me to accept. That people with the mental health profession will not stand up and support you-- even if they agree with you. Why? Because people are fearful of losing their job, or they are fearful to take a stand that others feel is the wrong stand.

I ask all you Canadians. Could you could stand at this fork? Knowing that all roads have met you in failure. Could you accept you are powerless to help a suffering sick child?

This Canadian Mutt Growls It is Time to Change

2010-06-17T11:29:00.001-07:00

As Canadian we are very polite, passive nation, a nation that believes in live and let live. Canadian's we enjoy our health care, we enjoy the rights and freedoms we have. We enjoy a very peaceful life in our wonderful Country. Canada with wide open spaces, small town communities, where you know your neighbour, where people smile as they greet you good morning on the streets. Yes I'm a proud Canadian mutt, a mix of every nationality across the world, but pure blood to none.

Recently I have begun to ponder this great Nation and the times we live in, and I question the role as a passive person. As a Canadian--- I'm proud of who we are today? No! I am not. I find we are a fragmented melting pot with no unity, no nationality, no identity and no purpose because we can't proper identify with who we are and what we want as a country.

Yes to be Canadian is to be mixed blood of many cultures, religions,and traditions. I believe that everyone has a right to enjoy their individualism,-- But are you Canadian or NOT? That is my question! If you say your a Canadian, then who are we?

Well, I believe that to be Canadian is to know your neighbour, to lead a helping hand if needed, and to be active in your community. Canada is the best place to live in the world, because we are peaceful, and caring Nation.

What happened to us? Since the 80's I noticed a dramatic change in our communities, in our youth, in our crime, and in the general way the world sees Canada as a nation. I for one don't like this one bit. The major causes of these changes, self greed, self rights, and place self value higher then the masses. Look at these common statements we hear everyday.

"It is your right"

"You want it just go out and take it"

"You earned it, demand it"

When I see people suing over hot coffee I want to scream. Coffee is HOT, always has been, and if it wasn't hot, we would demand a new cup. So because you didn't take the proper safety measure to insure this hot drink didn't burn you,' You have the right to sue!!!'

Now look at this people, ones own stupidity is a case to sue. SO because your too dumb to know hot coffee burns you can sue. Sad, so sad. Now before you jump to this persons defense, there is another important fact to remember, who will be paying extra for our next cup of coffee, who will be paying for the 2 employees that where laid off, or worse who will employ the 30 people that lost job when the business closed shop in your town??? Can we as a nation afford to be this selfish, it is my right- you done me wrong and will pay!!! Now what message is that giving our children!

Now politicians, and school teachers, unions and taxpayer's money. I love teachers and value their service to my children and society, but lets face facts it is a great job, with summers and weekends off, what job gives people this luxury,-Not many. To be fair, teachers do a job that is very stressful, and government cut backs make even more difficult, but you work only 7months of year, with weekends off,winter break and spring break, sick days and you earn 45,000- 60,000 a year.

My daughter's clinician( social worker/mental illness), who has masters also, her job is equally stressed by clients, and government cut backs, she doesn't only work 7 months of year, and she doesn't strike for more pay.

People just because unions allow us to get more money every year in negotiations is it proper? "Your Right you Earned it." And is it helping the overall picture? No it is feeding the overall downward circle of greed, the need to feed the greed, which is hungry even more.

Now politicians, here is where I am going to be very clear. I don't want to be politician and someone has to do this very public job. Your are rewarded very handsomely as in pay, and pension plan, then the many perks. All this should be enough!"'You want it just take it" You don't need to be greedy and make shadey deals, you don't need to be milking money from funds to pay your personal bills, and you don't need money money. If you are in politics do it for the love of the country, that has so richly provided for you. How can you be a creditable person who says they care about Canada's health care or mental health care? When you rob from Canada taxpayers to line your own pockets, Greed when will it ever end? Your robbing from your elderly aunt, your robbing from impoverish children, and your robbing from health care system that might cause a death.

How can we as proud Canadians allow this type of selfish greed, bankrupt our nation? Please write your comments.

This Mutt's Is Suffering But Who Cares?

2010-06-16T13:44:00.000-07:00

When a child has early psychosis, they are at age 12-15. The estimated healing time for a server psychosis is 5-9 years. Who is looking after this child? What is the home-life like? Who helps? If the public truly knew what home life is like to care for and live with a mental ill child,they would out cry for support.

First of all I am not a trained psychiatric nurse, I am not a trained social worker, I am not a trained drug or addiction councilor –but I care for her in all these 24/7 —I’m a regular MOM. Educated yes, smart, happy-go-lucky, positive and full of energy mom, but just a mom. At 41 years old I was hoping to start getting my degree in the mental illness field. I can focus on me as my children age 21 and 20 are independent, but life never turns out how you planned, -and that is ok.

When our princess was born, she was so tiny but a very powerful baby. Just one smile or show of brown eyes could send daddy to his knees. Yes this was a princess in total command. As parents we had hopes and dreams for our daughter.

Our Princess was model child, quiet, shy, willing to sit quietly, never fought any authority,and never loud or vociferous. Sounds like dream child and she was, then she hit pre-teens at about 12 and major things started happening. Yelling non stop, she never say anything that wasn’t full of frustration, anger and resentment as parent we were so out of our element.

It was like her whole being changed, her friends change from strong family ( good kids), to the trouble kids. For a child that followed all the rules now hated all rules. She was breaking school rules and not caring, then she started breaking laws without a care. She was a settled content child now nothing was good enough, she hated her family and life. All my friends, teachers even doctor all passed it off has hormonal change and rebellious pre-teen, but in my heart I couldn’t accept this. The change was too dramatic, one extreme to the other.

This is a problem for us even today, who is our princess, is she really that childhood person, or is she really this person full of frustration. Will she ever settle this frustration and anger in her life? And How can she possible work this through with all the other things, such has healing a broken mind? Yes it seems like the impossible but they say it can be done.

When I think of all the things our princess will have to overcome just to be a resemblance of our child that once WAS.–I’m totally overwhelmed. I do have hope, but the hope is so often robbed by the everyday events, the minor set backs, then years of process steal your hope away too. We have been in this process for 5 years, and it has never been a stable 5 years. Then I think about the repairing of relationship she will have to do, just between her brother, father and I.

There is no medications that deal with what professionals call negative symptom. How I remember the names and labels, negative symptom have a negative effect on the people around you; aggression, anger, frustration,weird body movements, violent mood swings, odd facial expressions, abnormal dress and hygiene appearance, and odd emotional reactions to everyday events or topics.

Even if you are a saint, even if you remind yourself day after day, it isn’t her fault it is the illness, you still let resentment slip in. You still react badly to situations that will cause relationship break downs. In the course of 5-9 years- How many hurtful things will be said? How many bad reaction will occur? If our family didn’t make the sacrifice to support and care for our princess, where would she be? On the streets as societies problem! Or worse dead!

So yes we all live in a situation were there is daily abuse, but done by a person that has no clue they are abusing us. And done by a family who is doing their best to cope in very taxing and stressful situations.

So lets just take one day into consideration, we have to run to the doctors today. Last week we had to reschedule because it just was a losing battle for me to get her willingly to doctor- only option was to call police to psychically take her.

To start the day off, she is nervous about appointment, which caused her to have hard time sleeping. She’ll have to get up tired and that will set day off on wrong foot. Then she sleeps in clothes,(something we can’t change)so will ask her to change into cleans clothes,brush hair, brush teeth, and for motivation a bribe of Timmy’s coffee if she hurries.

We are now 20 mins late. I’m never late, this morning process usually takes 1 1/2 hrs to get through, but I left us 2 1/2 hrs today.

I wasted time waking her up the genital way, because today will be ugly enough without setting the entire day in that mood. So I made the normal 4 trips to wake a teenager,which I get the normal response,” I’m awake stop bugging me.” I estimated 1 hr to wake her up gently, process is now 2 hours. Now I only have half hour to make it out the door to make doctors appointment on time.

She comes up stairs from changing, with the same jeans she been wearing for three days. I will choose this as my battle today. So I ask our princess to change her jeans and to find jeans that aren’t hanging,below her panties, and fall off her butt when bends over. She yells with extra colour too, ” My jeans don’t fit,because she lost over 12lbs. “Result from living with abusive boyfriend. Finally after she yells, slams, and tosses things about for next 20 mins, she comes upstairs with different jeans that fit nicely. We have 15 mins left. I ask her one more time to brush hair and teeth, she decides to have a smoke instead. It will be an hour drive to doctors, and I won’t let her smoke in truck, so this will be second fight. So hair is messy and teeth less than clean, but we have to accept somethings, and not push to have a stressful day become a break down day. Note– My break down not our princess!!! I notice she is walking funny so ask,” Is there is something wrong with shoe?” Her very colourful reply,” The dog **** slept on my ***Foot, now I can’t **** walk, and your **** making me go to *** doctor.” So I drop the entire issue, the dogs sleep in my room, so wonder why she isn’t walking right.

So Princess has been home since end of April so solid month, and we are working on stabilizing her, but it now is month and half and still no where close to being stable. I am tired, of walking on egg shells, of the days emotions from frustrated to totally pissed off being a never-ending Jo-Jo,and sick of more negative days than positive. There is nothing that can change this,but being on the proper dosage of medicines will help.Which at this rate, it will be Sept-Oct.

My honest opinion, this is the third time we have done this as a family, and not sure we can do it again, without the stress breaking something. The straw that breaks the camels back. Sad my family and I are this desperate, this close to empire collapse, and just needing support.

Where is support? There is none but friends and family allowing me to chew ear off.

It is now 10:30 am. So you just shared my 4 hour morning with our Princess.

Bark at me all you want! My denial won't change!

2010-06-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

In Mental health, there is a great division in the area of denial and non compliance. Family and caregivers want earlier intervention, and the mental health professions want compliance.

I have often suggested that my daughters denial was part of her illness, that she is unable to see her illness as anything but normal to her. Many people just laughed at me, leaving me to believe they didn’t agree. There is documented proof this condition does exist and Dr Xavier’s studies concur.

A Doctor Xavier Amador, psychologist did studies to determine why patients had denial. He also did studies into an effective method of treating the issue of denial and non-compliance, which he encompassed into 4 books.

Although largely used to describe unawareness of impairment after brain injury or stroke, the term ‘anosognosia’ is occasionally used to describe the lack of insight shown by some people who suffer from psychosis, and who therefore do not have the insight to recognize that they suffer from a mental illness. There is also evidence that schizophrenic anosognosia may be the result of frontal lobe damage.^[7]

Given this definition of ‘ Anosognosia ‘ How can we legislation the need to be complaint for voluntary treatment?

This voluntary component excludes a large percentage of the serious mental ill patients from receiving programing or medical attention before self endangerment may occur. Is it justifiable to exclude a percentage of mental ill, because of a medical condition, we don’t accept nor understand?

Canadian Mutt Yowls With Pain of Not Being Heard.

2010-05-31T09:30:00.000-07:00

What it is like to live with a family member who has a mental illness.

Many of you can well imagine what life is like to live with someone as sick as my daughter, but I doubt you can full understand the strain it places on a family. Below is a letter I wrote to the victims representative for RCMP May 12. My daughter left her predator boyfriend at the end of April, and has been living back home under our protection. Sadly there are no laws to protect my daughter.

Dear Tina,

Our Daughter, isn't doing great, she is having fits of laughter, crying and doesn't know why, she paces floor all day, can't focus on school stuff, and can't processes the simplest conversation. Her mind is totally occupied. Her eating has declined, we have to give her 2 clausipam to get her to settle down enough to sleep by 10. We now have her sleeping, but deterioration is getting worse by the day. My mother intutiation, has me shadowing her every moment, why I don't know, I just have this feeling I need to check her all the time.I can't get her to shower or change clothes, sit down and watch her favourite decorating shows, the only thing we can do to get her out of house is drive up in mountains.

She no longer can keep track of time, she can't even remember which events happened yesterday, she seems to think it is today. She even gets distracted while we are eating, she will take a few bits, then zone out. Her Father and I are like reminding her with clues she is to eat now because supper time. It is so weird to see this.

In my opinion she needs to be in hospital, We have Doctor appointment early next week, so if you can keep THUG away until then very cool and will help a lot. IFY....he called last night at around 7 from pay-phone....ask to talk to Her, I said no. Then I disconnected the phone. Because I need NO contact from Thug, when She is so incoherent. If the police see our Daughter they need to contact us immediately, as she is an endangerment to herself out side of the house.

Carrie-Ann

Now to clarify some generalized statement I make in the email.

Confusion..... When I say confusion, I mean everything is foggy, like looking through a pain of broken window glass. Little bits of information here, missing pieces lost and the whole world of information is servilely fragmented. That is her state of mind. Yes she does have clear moments of the day, but they are very short lived. In this clear moments she is mad at us, because we replete statements, ask her to voice back what we just said, but it is the only way to evaluate her comprehension.

Walking on eggshells of motional eww.... This is never knowing how she will react to any given statement or situation. This is overall negative symptoms and unstableness. She is totally agitated ,think of an addict without a fix, that is her level of anxiety. She doesn't understand why she is feeling so keyed up, so she paces, rambles, jumping from task to task to find comfort. I don't know about you but I can't imagine a day like this.My daughter will have to suffer 6 mons like this. Now emotions, sudden burst of emotion usually the wrong emotion for the situation. Aggression is the other emotion, many people see this and just say Bad KID, but that isn't the case. Imagine if you couldn't communicate, no one understood what you saw in your head, or everyone tell you NO that happen yesterday. You want to believe them but then that would be admitting very sick, and in your mind your 100% your right and they are wrong. How long before frustration gave way to aggression, then add strain of anxiety and agitation. Aggression of some form seems like normal response.

Now our seniors have these days, we call it dementia. We place them in care, and a family member as guardian. But do we do this with mentally ill no!

We have to start from beginning with medication. When I wrote this letter she was on 1/12 the amount of medication as before summer 2009, we increase by 50 ml a week. So in about 6-9 mons she will be stabilized -we hope. Can you imagine living everyday with this kind of drama? Well it is my life and I don't begrudge it, but I would like some changes.

I want to place mentally in care while unstable with state of confusion, until they are stabilized

I want laws to protect mentally ill from all predators, if a persons action are endangering mentally ill health , then charge and arrest immediately.

I want all mentally ill to have a legalized agreement that is like living will, can grow and be changed as see fit, and human rights are only taken away if serious deterioration occurs.

I want the legislation mental act law....the clarify endangerment to themselves and others.

No More Trimming This Canadian Mutt Is Raw to the Bone!

2010-05-27T19:55:00.000-07:00

Who is paying the price for another Liberal cut (No - trimming of fat)? Children! The Liberals are placing vulnerable children with a serious mental illness at risk.

My daughter currently has the only Children's Psychiatrist, serving clients in Penticton. This Doctor travels down from Kelowna, but that will come to an end. The Children and Youth Mental Health has discontinued the Doctor's gas expense. I personally feel my daughter and other children's health and wellbeing is worth paying this expense.

Now parents will have to suffer another expense of not only gas to travel a 2 hr trip one way to see a Doctor in Kelowna, but many parents will have to take a day off work. This on top of the average cost to support mentally ill child is $10,000.00 per year.

The Stats currently state --- 1 out of 5 children receive treatment.

How will driving 4 hrs-- to and from Kelowna , effect that stat? Less parents will be able to meet this added hardship of 2-4 trips per month, to Kelowna. With preventative care, evidences state that early treatment has the greatest success rate. If the Liberals cared about Children and families with mental illness you would not impose any added burden, as they already are their child's 24/7 caregiver.

Liberal's say, "they want to do preventative treatment and that no cuts will directly effect clients access to services."

Well Mr Kevin Falcon, you've failed twice ! I now have no confidence in anything the Liberals say !

Carrie-Ann Dambrowitz

15 Lambert Crt

Osoyoos, BC

V0H 1V2

250 495 6610

Bark-out-Loud!!! What a Joke BC Liberals Are!!!

2010-05-26T19:48:00.000-07:00

BC'S Minister Of Health asked Health authorities to cut 10 % at gross. That is 45 million and where is this trimming to go? Well Minister answered" Other Ministries to prevention of health issues !!!"- But wait Liberals gave increase of 7%…….BUT where did the missing 3% go?? Yes cut -10% , give+ 7% = NO CUTS? Great accounting even grade 1 students can do better. ON the upside for Kevin Falcon, he can enjoy a glass of fine BC wine cheaper!!! HST will make booze cheaper, that is what Kevin call's prevention for Mental Health Addictions. What a joke! This is the Liberal 10 year Health Plan!!

My family racked up expenses from hospital visit and doctor appointments $ 10,000.00 in one year. Times the three years she was unstable and in and out of hospitals. This year our daughter was too sick for employment, but not sick enough to do nothing, her only motivator was interior decorating. There is no grants available for a person with mental illness for schooling. Another $10,000.00 in education and expenses, as the college couldn’t pro-rate the cost of course. Keep in mind this course was an outreach program for her social skills development. Did I get to collect any money on income tax for medical expenses?

I quit my job twice to be 24/7 nurse and support for my daughter, and unemployment has no benefits for this hardship. My husband lost contracts because he couldn’t work weekends. We made these choices for our daughter and focused weekends to her care, so our personal income was too low for deductions. Then CRA tells me to apply for a disability credit because we quality. Three times the Doctor filled out paper work wasn’t enough information for them, so denied. So yes I have made my contribution!

So Honourable Kevin Falcon, when stated “Whatever level of investment being made, the important element here is that individuals can make a difference. Individuals can make a contribution towards a sustainable health care system. I would hope that the public, any of the public that may be watching, will consider that as we go forward”

I was appalled! Kevin Falcon, you definitely didn’t do any research in the cost of a mentally ill child, nor did you investigate into the lack of programming and funds. You didn’t inform yourself as Minister of Health, or even take a personal interest into BC taxpayers, living with a mental illness within their families. May I suggest some reading for the BC Liberal Government, as you haven't read my letters or you would have been informed.

Below article written By Dr Stan Kutcher. Stan is associated with the Canadian Mental Health Commission. http://blog.teenmentalhealth.org/2010/05/21/early-onset-of-mental-disorder-hurts-–-in-your-wallet/

It Is A Canadian Mutt's Right to Drink Beer In Camping Park Sites

2010-05-25T17:19:00.000-07:00

We all just recently, enjoyed the long weekend. Many of us camp at provincial and national parks. Camping provides families and friends, a get away from the busy cities, or a weekend to relax.

If you are a Canadian Mutt like me, you’ll enjoy a relaxing beer or two over this weekend, but government will soon place a ban on this. Yes! Government is going to take away our choice to drink responsibly in government parks. Me a person who has a total of 15 drinks for entire year, and who might get drunk enough to make fool of herself- a total of three times a year. Now my choice to drink reasonable in public park , within my paid campsite with by-laws I signed to obey, will be taken away by LAW.

Government is mandating these laws, by-laws and legislation to protect the public from the few who don’t know how to do anything responsibly. Texting and driving, putting make-up on while driving, or drinking too much and becoming a problem to others.

But what really gets my undies in a bunch–the normal population, who doesn’t have a mental issue need this laws to govern everyday common sense, than why doesn’t government place the simplest legislation upon the mentally ill. Does anyone see the double standard in this?

A mentally ill person, who is non compliant, has a choice to take medicine even if not taking medicate makes them aggressive towards others, or has the choice to drink even when it affects medicines ability to work. I have actively asked government to impose legislation around these issues.

The answer I received,” We can’t take people’s rights away.”

What a crock of bull! Government takes rights to choice away everyday with laws, policies and legislation,but the government won’t protect the mentally ill from making choices that ultimately harm their mental health.

Isn’t protecting the mentally ill from self harm ,worth government legislation?

Is it a Bark or a Bite??--Stigma

2010-05-25T15:52:00.000-07:00

“Stigma!”" News and movie media are always portraying the violent side of mental illness.” ”Less than 5% commit a violent act!”

Personally don’t agree that the media is to blame. Now I’m about to piss off a very large community of people. I think the real reason these negative stigma won’t go away until some serious issues are addressed, in Canadian law, mental health acts, human rights and privacy laws. Only then can we begin to protect the mentally ill that have a potential to create harm to themselves and others. Which is less than 5%!

My child falls into that 5%, I speak from personal experience, when I answer this question. If my child was to suffer harm in anyway or cause harm in anyway, I would run to the media. The media is the only way to get heard. I have ranted about the changes that need to occur to protect lives, but does governments listen. NO! I think the most heartening for me is that the mental health community doesn’t listen either.

I can’t really blame them, fear of– the dark, lock you, crazy away days–, still haunt many. Is there a common ground we can all stand on?

Personally don’t want to lock people away, or force inhuman treatment on people. But I do believe that we are a beastly human race that allows people to suffer in their mental illness. They are so ill, that they refuse treatment, or even harder for a family member to get treatment for a loved one. Why? Because of red tap, bureaucratic policies, human right laws,privacy act and the mental health act, doesn’t adequately cover crisis areas. Most of the time the mental health act isn’t even used correctly, it needs to be rewritten. I have personally asked the BC government to do this? In a letter they told me, is the act is fine and at this point WON”T be rewritten.

So who is listening? A man who falls in this 5% stood up at a conference in Vancouver and beg a lawyer to listen to him. I will never forget this man’s statement, it cut me to the core of how we neglect this small percentage of people.

” Yes, Give me the right to govern my mental illness, but when I’m ill give me the Right to be Healthy and Live.”

The plain simple truth is if the laws worked, or if there were more preventative measures, families won’t have to suffer to loss of a loved one. Families wouldn’t have to watch a loved one, suffer under the torment of an unstable mind that causes tragedy. If it was NOT so hard to get help, or even a bed for the mentally ill, we could prevent so many deaths.It is truly unjust and inhuman treatment. We must address these issues if we want the negative stigma to go away. Deaths will keep happening until we do. The media doesn’t cause these deaths, but government policies do. So only we can change that.

Mutt's Rights VS Human Rights

2010-05-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

I recently read an article, which caused me to think. Are we an nation that doesn’t care? I think we care but are we willing to change the ownerships of problems? I hear statement like this all the time, “they want to be homeless so let them be!” What right do we have to interfere?
I have bought into this thinking, but is it really true, or is it just a very colourful and ingenious way to be passive and say.” not my worry– not my care.” When I think of a homeless person living on the street, I now ask myself this question, is that person on the street because of choice or situation? Is this person’s choice ruled by an mental illness that is left untreated? Or is this person so crippled by their drug addition that, all their rational choice are based in their next fix? What if these statement are the case, do we get involved? No, we don’t get involved because we justify ourselves by stating,” it isn’t our right to interfere with others lives.”

Is this a caring nation? We have gone to war for human right issues in the past. We can jump into another countries business but we can’t seem to jump into the business in our own streets.

Domestic violences here is another area we stand by and do nothing. Now I know of personally 3 men that are wife beaters, and children abusers. You know who they are , they live in your town, and we all talk about the tragic mishaps that occurred last weekend. But these abusive men are innocent until proven guilty. These men are placed in jail on a weekly occasion for fighting, for being drunk and disorderly, they might even go to court, but nothing rarely happens.

Now of the three men I personally know, One has never been charged, his victims are children, it is the child word against this very skilled predator. The child is so scared of this adult who seems all powerful, then the mother carries so much guilt that she can’t face the reality. So who helps. Who will stop this. This man was my father, who is in late 50′s and has he ever faced a charge? Sadly no. His victims are usually age 9-12. And he gets away with it, even to this day.

Now on to the other man, for 17 years he beat and tormented his family, everyone in the town knew this to be a fact, many witness it. But the wife had to make the charges. Now given the fact this womans situation, she believes if she was better person or better mom this would all stop. It is her fault, she makes her husband lose it and beat them. She feared her husband so greatly that she couldn’t stand against him. So sad, children to grow up in that environment, and what does this do to their life. Mentally how healthy can one be to be raised by this?

Now the last guy, mister violent,drinks and party every weekend, even though he is 33 years old. He lives on the street, jumping from house to house, wearing out his welcome and moves on. Now he goes to the holding tank almost every weekend, he is known by victims unit, charged for 4 assault in one summer. But is he in jail? Is he in some kind of treatment? To answer you no! Now he is dating my mentally ill daughter, he is preying on her weaken state of mind. This is the perfect person he can control, a little puppet.

We all say how terrible this is, we all say it shouldn’t be allowed to happen. But what is done. Do these peoples rights out way the people they victimize? What about these poor souls that are abused, where are their rights??

The plain simple fact is in Canada, my dear dog is better protected by the law then any human out there. My dog has no rights, so it can be removed from harms way. My dog doesn’t have to prove abuse in court, the signs of trauma and abuse are enough for the owner to be charged and go to jail.

Yes in Canada our pets have more value then humans under the laws.

What Happened to Mutts Caring For the Pack?

2010-05-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

Here is something to ponder. About two weeks ago, I was in Wal Mart with a friend. A man ahead of us, who was mumbling to himself walked through the security panels and wouldn’t ya know it– they go off. This man was in 50′s and was clearly agitated over something. After the silly alarm sounded he shows more signs of anxiety. Only to walk out the doors and no taxi, so man walks back in, ask the Greeter why the Taxi isn’t there. The Greeter looks bewildered, and proceeds to ask the man if he needs help.

The Man then gets ever vocal, which causes the Greeter to vocalize too. Now the scene I am forced to endure is just plain ugly. It bothered me and other customers.

Now you and I know this is just everyday life, but as am noticing the mental health side of life, and the basic you have no right to treat me this way ((( selfish monster))). I have to wonder what the shopping day will be like as the population ages, and people grow less tolerant of any behavior.

While I don’t think people should be verbally abused at work. I think that people working within the public community should receive training in dealing with stressed people. People today seem to be in too much of a rush, to busy to take the time, and too lazy to be creative in dealing with these kinds of issues.

I believe that if we could all brush aside that ((((( me Monster)))) and stop to think about the person in front of us, maybe these little public scenes could be avoided. Think of this for a second, parents have been crying for years the TV and Games have demoralized our children. I say this, is it not us who are teaching our children the very same thing, when we ignore a person in need,or comfort. What message do we honestly say to our children and the world, when we treat so many people with indifference??

How hard is it to say the a man, gee I am sorry the alarm rang on you. I know they are loud and can hurt your ears. Are you looking for a taxi. Would you like me to call one. I am sorry one wasn’t waiting for you, as you expected, but I will call on now. And we can talk while we wait. There done! Situation changed, and just maybe in the process you will learn that his man has just placed his wife in hospital, and she maybe dying of cancer.

Some-days I wish for my magical wand that would take all negative scenes of my day and change them around. Well that magical wand may never come, so I will have to make the change one step at a time. Here is hoping some of you out there will be brave enough to do the same

Mutt Tries To Aid The Homeless Pack

2010-05-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

So today I am going to blog about something that everyone is really at a loss to deal with, because it is a very complex problem.

I am talking about the homeless that are very resistant to treatment and of help of any kind. Now I will describe some of the issues surrounding these people.

They resist going to shelters because of a couple of reason: they are unable to deal with crowds,and they feel that shelters are unsafe environment. Most of the homeless people have complex and concurrent mental health problems. Concurrent health problem such as addictions, non treated mental health, education and little job skills. Many people would be surprised to know many homeless don’t use social assistance, so in my opinion they are very skillful in gaining resources. So here is an idea, what if various non-profit organizations ran a government-funded street fair. This street fair would provide products to the public, such as food, flowers, news stands– ect. So now the money aspect of this fair, the non-profit organization would be responsible for the money, but the person manning the booth could gain tokens that later after money management skill, money for the hours they worked, which they could use to buy food with or shelter. Now this program could have available treatment attached such as job coaches, training and education, support with consoling,and lastly a network of peer support. Now I am not silly enough to say this won’t be without problems, first of all Government has to pour out money into this program. Secondly the public has to support such a program and thirdly downtown business would have to support this plan of action too. Lastly a very committed well-informed (trained) non-profit has to be will to take it on.

Now just imagine this idea for a moment, what problems will be attached with it, and what areas of beneficial outcomes could arise.

First,I want to do benefits.

People could gain valuable job skills,education, and treatment at low level. These few skills could enrich a person’s life enough that they have the courage to become an independent member of society with little social support. People could go from managing tokens to managing money. People could go from living on streets to affordable housing. They would gain respect and pride within themselves again, that is an asset that has no price.

Now for the problems, the biggest problem I see is no public or government support. Second problem I see if how to get homeless to participate. The homeless that already provide a service for cash, will be the easiest to jump on board, so why not start there. If the homeless people saw a plan in motion, and began to trust the organization running program maybe they would be willing to engage. Just so everyone knows this isn’t an over the night magical fix.

Now where is the money going to come from? I ask you this, because basically it is your choice. Will you support government spending in this area? Are you willing as business people, as tax payers to support such a cause? Is lowering crime and getting people in affordable housing valuable to you? Or would you like to see a National fundraising campaign? But if that is your choice who would pay to advertise, would all the news media advertise for free? The simple fact is this National problem of homeless is going to cost and a lot!!! But are you personally ready to aid, is your company will to donate, as Canadian do we care enough to open our wallets? I would love comments.

Calling All Mutts- Yap Away! These Are Our Country's Stats

2010-05-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

Canadian Stats Quoted

70% of mental health problem and illness have their onset during childhood or adolescence
18% of the 30 % people who will have a mental illness are aged 15-25.
over 50% of the population with mental illness are children, youth or young college adults
age group with highest depression symptoms is UNDER 20.

Hope Dashed

ONLY 1 of 3 will receive treatment!
With early diagnosis a full recovery is now expected in most mental illness
Mental illness is just as preventative as heart disease
In most cases mental illness can be treated with medication and peer therapy
Only 3% of the mental illness are non-curable but it is expected to have a full healthy life.
mental illnesses constitute more than 15% of the burden of disease in Canada
only 5.5% of health care dollars on spent on Mental health

The nations and governments passiveness to ignore mental health, is a clear message that the public is hugely misinformed and uneducated about Mental Health Facts. Who is suffering? Our children and College students. These are the Facts to how we accept our mentally ill.

Average Acceptance Stats

Just 50% of Canadians would share that they have a family member with a mental illness, compared to 72% who would share about a family member with cancer
Only 12% of Canadians said they would hire a lawyer who has a mental illness
Only 49% said they would socialize with a friend who had a serious mental illness
46% of Canadians think people use the term mental illness as an excuse for bad behaviour
27% are fearful of being around people who suffer from serious mental illness.

Given the facts the 50 % of the mentally ill, are children. How can we stand in silence anymore? Government passiveness CAN’T be accepted.

Canadian Mutts Rights to Healthly Life VS Choice to be Sick

2010-05-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

The onset of mental illness most often occurs in the age group 15-25. While the child is under the age of 19 parents have guardianship and if this child was hospitalized, parents can request a ‘condition of release.’ This document is a very powerful tool , giving parents and Doctors the right to admit to hospital of intervene if negative symptoms appear or if non compliant issues arise.

Now this ‘condition of release’, or some call it ’extended hospitalization conditions’, this is like a probation clause. The problem is this information isn’t explained or given to loved ones, who care for mentally ill after release from hospital, nor is it used in very case. My daughter was under age— so not needed, because we had guardianship.

For over three years, our daughter was compliant and did everything required to support a positive healthy healing life style. Before she turned 19 no one discussed the other clause which is a legalized document, that basically stated ‘if said person is showing signs of stress and negative symptom, caregivers have the right to step in and demand treatment’. Baring in mind doctor approval is still required, which is harder than it seems.

The reason the legalized Guardianship wasn’t discussed– basically no one, even myself thought this would be an issue, and secondly she was NEVER consider to have a sane mind for this document to stand up in court. So we were left without any rights, to kept her healthy and on the road to recovery. When all else has failed, then hospitalization is considered. Seeking hospitalization for a person with mental illness is a very desperate act and the last resource.

19 – 25 Children – because for many their mind broke down in adolescence, so how can a healing mind mature into adulthood? But Canadian Law states, 19 is adult ,and a person can decide to do things even if it places a person in endangerment. Canadian Law states, that a 19-year-old ,who professionals consider not sane enough to give over guardianship legally, can under the Canadian law make adult decisions? Does this make sense? Is there not a serious lapses of government legislation here?

Today in Canada, we don’t have the human right to decide to ride a bike without helmet this law made to protect from injury. We don’t have the human right to smoke in public places or now outside in front of businesses this law made to protect health issue. We don’t have the human right to talk on cell phones while driving – law made to protect from unnecessary accidents. So why can’t the government make laws to protect the mentally ill’s right to be a healthy person?

I’m only asking Government to make policies, procedures, and legislation changes that will save us money. Legalizing ” The Ulysses Agreement” could protect our mentally ill, while maintaining human rights. Pro active treatment, preventative treatment, to protect and save lives. Write your local MLA’s, to bring this issue to BC government. Without action we are harming young lives with future potential.

Mutt Wants To Take a Bite Out of Government Cruelty

2010-05-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

I wrote the BC Minister of Housing, Mr Rich Coleman, in April 19 2010. To complain about the policies implemented to maintain social obedience in the housing projects.

Social behaviour, non compliance and criminal activity. While I agree with minister that no one should have to live with these issues. But many families live with it everyday. Turning a blind eye to the problem doesn’t fix it, and policies only add burden of discrimination to the chronic mentally ill people of our society.

There is two reasons why the chronic mentally ill have social behaviour issue. Negative symptoms, are behavioural issues: mood swings, anti-sociable,odd behaviour, hygiene, and dress, mumbling to themselves, even yelling, then lastly aggressive reactions. Medication even taken regularly can’t remove some of these symptoms. Medication, proper sleep, food and adequate housing all used in combination with doctor and clinician’s supervision will dramatically reduce these negative symptoms along with time. Think of a person with cancer, they need surgery, medication, chemo therapy, radiation and proper personal care, but even with all this some cases take years of treatment. This same treatment is needed with chronic mentally ill or major psychosis.

Negative symptoms create a spiral effect lets just use one example, person with anxiety. Anxiety causes a person to have an overactive mind, that is very noisy and impossible to shut off. So you had a stressful day, go to bed and can’t sleep, so tomorrow your day is foggy and you have a hard time processing things. But what if in your foggy mind you forget to take your pills, which help you clam down, moods and help you sleep, so now for two nights you haven’t got any sleep. Can you see the downward spiral, never ending spin until you crash.

Now imagine if a sever chronic mental illness in this downward spin. No it isn’t pretty and it takes months to correct with supervision, now add that person is aggressive and non-compliant. There are no laws regarding this non-complaint. Then this person is label aggressive, violent or maybe even charged with assault. Who’s fault is this? The mentally ill? As a family member I know how hard it is to seek medical treatment, or hospitalization for this deterioration.

A family in Kamloops, had their son placed in foster care at a young age because of mental illness related problems. This boy remained in care until 19, then found himself homeless. His parents agreed he could stay until they found a place for him. Now what this poor family didn’t know was his past violent behavior would disqualify him for any social housing. During the process of finding housing for their mentally ill son, Children’s Ministry came in and removed 3 younger children from house.

Government’s double standard, you are unsafe to younger children in home, but won’t hospitalize you? You are dangerous for my workers so I have to place policies to protect them, but we won’t place you in care?

Government can see the Mental Health Law not working , or why else the need for these policies and action. Government’s passiveness to correct a flawed Mental Health Act Law, that is largely outdated, and not pro-active, is a very cruel unjust way of treating stuffing families with mentally illness.

Canadian Mutt Wants Government To Clean Up Their Waste Pile

2010-05-25T15:26:00.000-07:00

Has the BC Government heard we are in very critical times? Yes, they know! I hear them babble ” lets cut this, trim the fat here and there”. What I want to know is did they trim the fat in personal expenditures. I will be the first to admit that administration costs for ministries are expensive, but I do take exception to excessive spending—- luxury spending.

My husband and I have run a family business for a number of years, and if we had to trim the fat, you can be assured he wouldn’t be dining clients, he wouldn’t make clients wait in line ups outside his doors, and he respond to clients in a timely matter with personal contact and care. All of this requires him to put an extra effort in, more work and less personal perk – socializing. The bottom line is he has to provide food and housing for us.

I would love to see the Liberal BC government’s personal perk tab, to see if they trimmed the fat there, before I accept cuts to some of the most needed programs- education, social assistance, housing for poor, mental health, and children. When spending in these programs have been trimmed to the point there is lean meat only. Crime increases, and health cost rise, do to the simple fact people can’t feed and house themselves properly.

The Liberal Government has been in power for how long now, but I still don’t see the 10 year health plan. I ‘ve wrote, Kevin Falcon, Minister of Health , numerous times since August 2009, ( 7 Months), but he has yet to personally email me, write nor call me on the phone. Then considering that the other ministers within his government have all done so in a timely and personal nature. Why haven’t you, Kevin Falcon? I can only assume that my concerns of mental health have no value to the BC Liberal government.

I would like to caution the Liberal Government of Canada, I remember how the people of Canada responded to the PC Party when they held the federal government and didn’t listen to the people. It’s the tax payers of BC that have you in Office and it is the tax payers that you are accountable to. So trim the fat if you must, just remember you can’t trim fat when the meat is already lean and raw.

A Mutt Idea- Medical Data Base For Mental Health

2010-05-25T15:22:00.000-07:00

Apparently my idea isn’t a new one. The Canadian Mental Health Association, has it as their mandate - called the collaborative health plan. A Dr. Nick Kates of Ontario already implements half these idea with medical professionals. This solution has been idealized for half a decade, but where has it gone?

It isn’t a hard of a concept to understand and everyone sees the need, but the blockers are just superficial government, provincial, and bureaucrat garbage. I was told Doctors and clinicians need to be trained in this idealization. I for one believe that Doctors and clinicians are smart enough to understand this concept without training. Then the other point was privacy laws, consider we have same system known as BC provincial medical data base, then where is the issue to have same data base for mental health. As for the Case Worker: overseer of case, all you need is a person with great organization skills that can take all government services and agencies and community services and apply them to the needs of an individual. I feel a wedding planner could do this position justice– crude statement, but very true.

When I think of all the money wasted within the health care system, and the government money wasted to develop ideas— it makes me sick. The bottom line is people within the mental health community believe there is no way get these ideas implemented into government. I hear it all the time, ” hey, Carrie-Ann good luck with that!” or ” you don’t have a snowballs chance in HELL”

We just kept spinning our wheels. We knew what the problem was in 2002 with the Kirby Report on Reform – Mental health care was too fragmented. 2012 will mark the Kirby Report a decade old- what has it done, besides waste money. The Vancouver Report-lost in transition(2008-2009)states the problem. Just look at the 2009 mental health stats, look at all the reports.Without a positive plan of action Mental Health issues will place such a burden on all areas of government and societies- it will bankrupt us. Basically we are placing a band-aid on a wound that needs medical attention. These little band-aid fixers will not heal the problem.

I want to see a real plan of action by the BC government in way of mental health. I will be willing to work with Mr Kevin Falcon for free. The idea of a collaborative mental health system is a sound concept. It will save us money, it will stop duplication,and it will meet a persons needs before the costs sky-rocket to excessive amount. So like a teenage girl waits for the popular boy to call, I will wait for my phone call too

Canadian Webb Of Doubleness-- TOO Costly For This Mutt

2010-05-25T15:10:00.000-07:00

Social Assistance for the Mentally Ill. What a web of bureaucracy. At 16 my daughter was diagnosed with schizophrenia. A mental illness that isn’t curable, will not go away over time, needs to be medicated for life, and it will often be a very disabling mental illness.

Given these facts about schizophrenia I find the pathways to getting a Disability income for my daughter- ludicrous. The government plainly shows his lack of education, understanding, and compassion for these mentally ill people. The severe mentally ill people such as my daughter’s, will never be able to sustain an independent income; in other words she will have to depend on the government income. Did you know that in BC the school districts must fill out and complete proper documentation for persons with sever learning difficulties and handi-caps so that at age 18 they can receive a disability pension, but NOT for the server mentally ill??? What did the government forget about these poor souls?

My daughter must first apply for welfare, before she will ever be considered for disability pension. My daughter has had two comprehensive psychological tests, one done by Dr. Wally, part of District 53 school board, and the other one performed by Penticton mental health. These two tests showed that our daughter had severe learning difficulties and had difficulty doing every day’s tasks. Both professionals stated that that our daughter would more than likely qualify for long-term disability. All of the four Doctors that worked with my daughter stated she would be unable to hold a normal job to support herself.

Now these professionals can determine that a pension plan is applicable, then why must we jumped through bureaucratic hoops. The answer is simply this! There is NO need.. When considering that a monetary income would ensure: adequate housing, verses living on the street, funds in which to go to doctor’s appointments and or clinician appointments verses no health plan to healthy living, income in which to enrich their lives with education or social programs, and lastly to feel like a contributing, independent, individual of society. These are all basic human desires that reaffirm a human’s worth in society.

I am sure now that the BC government has been made aware of this– confusing, massive web of bureaucratic agencies, and the expenses of having two agencies handle one case. In a very tough economic period, we must be accountable to unnecessary spending. I would encourage the BC government to rectify this immediately. Call me, because I have some simple easy solutions.

The Bark of Hope- Pro-Active Treatment Plan

2010-05-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

All professionals and research around mental illness and additions agree that early intervention is the best course of treatment, to ensure quicker recovery time, to limit the damage cause and to prevent an chronic mental illness. Despite this evidence there is no proactive health plan of action for a mentally ill patient.

This proactive plan should be legislated in the Mental Illness Act, if not also made into a National policy. A proactive plan, would include all parties surrounding the mentally ill patient; doctors, psychologists, health clinicians, school officials and teachers, police and the primary caregivers. The mentally ill patient would participate in the whole process of developing their personalized Pro active plan. It should be legalized document that all parties should adhere to, and could be amended or rewritten as a patient progresses in recovery.

A proactive plan would ensure that when a patient is deteriorating or in a major crisis, health officials, police and caregivers can have a course of action to follow. This course of action would eliminate many problems the mentally ill face when seeking treatment for a crisis. It would eliminate the police from using the criminal code in order to seek treatment for mentally ill person that has not received adequate treatment from health authorities.

One only has to read it the Vancouver police report lost in transition to see the numerous problems in getting adequate help for the mentally ill. In the case of Cory, from the Vancouver police report, it is clear to see that he fooled his doctors and clinicians into believing everything was all right. But the truth of the matter was totally opposite, only Cory’s mother wasn’t fooled. She like a lot of other caregivers was powerless in seeking out the proper treatment for her son.

In the case of Tyler of BC, a proactive treatment might have saved his life. Tyler went to emergency room complaining he was thinking about killing himself. The Hospital released Tyler 48 hrs later, without calling his family, placed him on a bus. Tyler 23 years old didn’t make it home, sadly he took his own life.

In the case of Nichole my daughter, I desperately need a proactive plan, so that her health care providers, and her father and I , maybe able to avert a second psychotic break down. This second break down, could potentially leave our daughter’s mind in predominate damaged state. Our young 19 year old daughter could be lost to her mental illness

Canadian Mutt Fights For Cubs Mental Health

2010-05-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

The BC government has now committed crimes against children. It is inhumane to place children and adults mental wards because the governments have closed children beds in psychiatric wards. There is only 16 beds for children mental health in the interior/Thompson of BC and the Fraser Valley. Now the BC government has closed half off those beds.

At 16 my daughter suffered a major psychotic break. There wasn’t a bed available for her and a children psychiatric ward. She was committed by the BC government under the mental health act and placed in adult ward while we waited for an available bed. During this month wait, she escaped three times. During one of these escapes she was wandering around in a pair of pajamas totally incoherent and unable to perceive the world around her. I’m thankful that she was not abducted and raped– as she excepted a ride from a total stranger in a white car with a blue shirt. When questioned she believed the stranger in a white car and a blue shirt was a police officer. I called the hospital to let know my daughter was at home. I told the hospital that I would be keeping her at home until a bed became available for her in a children unit. The hospital’s reply was, ” you can’t do that she is a ward of the government now!!”.

The government claims that the mental health act adequately protects the mentally ill. If the mentally ill is an endangerment to themselves and others they can be committed. Now considering this, isn’t a person an endangerment to themselves when they live on the streets in freezing temperatures without adequate housing? But yet the government now claims we need Bill 18. Maybe we need Bill 18 because the mental act is not adequate and does not address their needs a mentally ill. Here is another crime against children one third of all homeless people are youth.

Lastly, the leading activist for the mental health, Michael Kirby, calls children mental health, The Forgotten Orphaned Child of mental health. Children mental health is the least funded, the most neglected of all the mental health areas. I feel that Canada should be charged for inhumane, unjust, and neglected care for the mentally ill children of the country. If you are outraged and appalled as much as I am please contact your local MLA , and voice your support for the mentally ill children of our country.

Yappy Mutt Goes Public

2010-05-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

I write to you today to bring your attention to some of the serious flaws in Canada’s Health Care regulations which govern the treatment of the mentally ill. I’m currently lobbying government to take immediate steps to make legislate improvements.

My daughter was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 16 and since that time has undergone the process of healing through a structured treatment program. In order for her to heal she must have 12 hours of sleep a night, take her medications, stay away from drugs and alcohol, and regularly see her Councillors and Doctors. Even by following all of her treatments, her road to recovery will take a minimum of 9 years and possibly longer. This means in order to get well my daughter will need to adhere to a structured treatment program until she is at least 25 years old. Any relapse within that time will inevitably lengthen her recovery time.

If early childhood psychosis is properly treated, it is very possible for people who have schizophrenia to lead productive and healthy lives without suffering any mental illness issues. Because of flaws in the current Health system, which accords the same human rights to mentally ill adults as it does to those who are not, now that my daughter is 19 I am no longer able to legally intervene when my daughter refuses or is unable to maintain the structured care that has until now kept her on the road to recovery.

As a 19 year old the law states that my daughter can reject treatment, medications, advice from doctors and councillors and nothing can be done to impose treatment on her until she becomes a danger to herself and/or others. I believe this to be a very serious lapse in the law. It would make eminently more sense to have a legal mechanism in place that allows caregivers the right to impose a mandatory treatment as soon as the obvious signs of mental digression begin to appear, well before they become dangerous.

According to the law my daughter has never been considered well enough to sign a power of attorney which would give me the right to act on her behalf and in her best interest. Given this scenario how can the law then award this very same daughter full right to her own mental care merely because she has turned 19?

The law gives me the right to protect my daughter’s money from predatory exploitation but I don’t have the ability to keep her away from criminal elements that might sell her drugs or give her alcohol, nor can I impose any kind of curfew on her. Medication for the mentally ill does not work if the patient is stressed, does not get enough sleep or if street drugs and alcohol are used. Currently my daughter is under the influence of a well known, 32 year old local drug dealer who tells her that she acts fine and doesn’t need to take medication. He encourages her to drink and even buys alcohol for her. Under the law I have no way to keep her safe from him by putting a restraining order on him even if he is seriously endangering her health – only my impaired thinking daughter can do this. How can it possibly be that protecting her money is more important under the law than protecting her mental health and wellbeing?

My daughter’s councillors, doctors and entire family have all noted that she has regressed by at least 50% from the period prior to her turning 19 when structured care was constant. All agree that she needs help now to keep her from reaching the danger state. The law which gives my daughter the right to decide her own treatment does not in any way recognize my daughter’s inability to understand when she is digressing and needs care. She cannot even tell you what the signs of digression are! Surely preventing her mental health from deteriorating to a dangerous state should have as equal a status under the law as do her human rights.

I have called 26 blue page services and NOT one could help me. Generally the answer has been that because is she is an adult only she can make decisions about her care.

If my daughter was to smoke a joint it has the potential to send her over the edge -ONE JOINT. That is a bomb just waiting to happen. That is my fear. There is often a rage or violent element to mental illness, but in most cases can be avoided and prevented if the patient is properly adhering to their treatment regimen. Believe me I have already been down this road with my daughter.

At the end of the month if my daughter is still deteriorating I will be forced to pressure the doctor to have my daughter committed. It is inevitable that she will be sent to the Penticton Hospital but this is not a hospital that is safe for her! She has already escaped from there three times. She was 16 the first time she was admitted to Penticton Hospital and she thought her father and I had placed her in jail and the nurses were feeding her poison. After one of her escapes she arrived back home barefoot and in her pajamas from a distance that is 45 minutes by car. This is not acceptable!

I know that if my daughter is committed to this hospital again, that it will be a terrifying experience with the capacity to haunt her for rest of her life. She will hate her parents and the caregivers who are trying to help her. How, I ask you, is this helping her to understand and deal with a mental illness she will have for the rest of her life!!!

Have we not seen enough recently of what can happen when the mentally ill are making health care decisions they are truly incapable of making?

* Aug 18, 2009 Grand Forks BC – 42 year old mentally ill woman stabs and kills 12 year old autistic boy. Her Neighbour stated she was withdrawn and not making eye contact. (This is a danger sign for anyone with mental illness and intervention should have occurred long before she reached this state.)
* July 31, 2008
Man decapitated by mentally ill man on Greyhound bus.

I would like to propose the following solutions that you might consider as one who has power to introduce legislation:

1. There needs to be a mechanism under the law to impose mandatory treatment in cases when patients are not adequately addressing their mental state and signs of deterioration are clear.
2. There needs to be a mechanism under the law to allow caregivers to protect the mentally ill from predators who lure them into criminal activity or other behaviour that works at odds with their medical treatment
3. There needs to be an authoritative body that can monitor a mentally ill child, well before they are turned loose at the age of 19, in order to make an assessment of how well they will be able to make mental health decisions on their own. If the patient is deemed to be incapable of maintaining treatments that will prevent mental digression without supervision then the law could provide for a Power of Attorney to be awarded to a responsible parent or other caregiver to ensure that treatment continues unabated as long as required. With periodic reviews the patient’s rights could be carefully balanced against the need for proper and sustained care.
4. Community centres are desperately needed where mentally ill patients can receive treatment in a more home-like environment close to family and friends. Here in Osoyoos the Sage Brush Building, owned by Interior Health would lend itself perfectly to such a facility.

Please help give me the legislative tools I need to help my adult/child seek and obtain the treatment she desperately needs in a facility close to home. All we want is to care for her and support her through this tragic illness that has already robbed her of 3 years of her life. I want to be able to protect my daughter from criminal activity, drinking on the beach and well away from drug users and dealers. I want her safe from predators. She is ill and cannot protect herself from any of these things and it is breaking my family’s heart.

We cannot have any of this for my child, without changes to government polices