Personal Stories

Karen Liberman

Photo Credit:

Photo by Barry Shainbaum.

You see, for me, hope, healing and recovery are not individual attainments or life states. Like the best meal or song or spectacular view, these are most profoundly felt when shared with others. I will forever thank MOOD DISORDERS ASSOCIATION for allowing me to share this finest of all gifts.

On Tuesday morning August 27 1997, I awoke at 10:37 am on the psychiatric ward in Sunnybrook Hospital and I was well. After fifteen years of indescribable emotional, cognitive, and physical pain, I was well. After six psychiatrists, seventeen hospital stays, twenty-seven different medications, twenty-four electro-convulsive therapy treatments, countless amounts of psycho-therapy, I was well. Having experienced spontaneous remission after one dose of a new medication (that I would continue with for the next twelve years), I was well.

Reprieve for the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office

Submitted by Anonymous on August 3, 2011 - 11:43am

At the end of June, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care proposed that the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office be moved from the Ministry to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario. Founded in 1983, the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office provides advocacy, rights advice and education, in particular to patients confined in hospital.

The proposal, covered in the Toronto Star, quickly caught the attention of consumer/survivors who expressed concern that the transfer of the Pscyhatric Patient Advocate Office to CMHA Ontario would be a conflict-of-interest, among other issues. A Coalition for an Independent Pscyhiatric Patient Advocate Office was formed and began advocating for broad consultation to ensure the Office was permanent, fully indepednet and not under the direction of CMHA Ontario.

At the end of July, only a month after the initial proposal, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care agreed to "engage our partners across the sector, including patients and their advocates to determine the best way to achieve our shared goals of increased independence for the PPAO." The Minister's letter is published on the Coalition's website.

The Mood Disorders Association is pleased that the Minister has agreed to further consultation before making any decisions on the future of the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office, and has sent a letter to Minister Mattews expressing our support for an independent Office. Download the letter: lettertoministerppaoaug311.pdf

If you are interested in following this issue, visit the Coalition for an Independent PPAO website, or join the Facebook page.