Stephen
54 years, Male | Alberta
“At just 18, I was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, leading to unnecessary anti-psychotic medications that worsened my condition and resulted in multiple traumatic hospitalizations. I remember the distressing treatment I endured during these hospital stays. I remember being treated inhumanely and feeling powerless to challenge it.”
I have grappled with my mental health throughout my adult life and feel let down by the system repeatedly. At just 18, I was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, leading to unnecessary anti-psychotic medications that worsened my condition and resulted in multiple traumatic hospitalizations. I remember the distressing treatment I endured during these hospital stays. I remember being treated inhumanely and feeling powerless to challenge it. I believe there's no mechanism for patients like me to address such mistreatment. I have lost all hope in the system ever changing.
A few years ago, when I was struggling, my church group intervened, taking me to the emergency room where I encountered a new psychiatrist. Although initially reluctant, my support network convinced me to seek ongoing mental health assistance. This new professional caught the misdiagnosis, discontinued all medications, and conducted tests that led to a completely different diagnosis.
Currently, I manage my mental health with anti-depressants overseen by my general practitioner. I have chosen to forgo ongoing care from mental health providers, feeling more comfortable self-managing my mental health journey with my doctor, given the trauma and abuse I have experienced within the system.
For me, the primary shortfall of both the mental health and healthcare systems is a lack of empathy and concern. I believe that the current system prevents care providers from truly caring for their patients, which I see as the most significant flaw in the mental health system. This compels me to handle my issues independently.
Disclaimer: All names featured throughout this report have been changed to protect the identity of participants. These individuals were selected at random from a group of individuals that recently completed an online blind survey about mental health, and self-identified as having a mental health diagnosis. Participants were compensated financially for sharing their stories, with a commitment from MHRC to privacy and anonymity.
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