Mental illness By CRIS LEYKAUF TEN YEARS ago when Emerson Huskins first came to Terrace, he spent his days panhandling on ‘the street, There’s nothing — physically wrong with Emerson. Then 48 years old, he should have been in| the prime of life. Yet he was on the street. {People were judgmental. They made snide remarks at me,” says “Emerson. His eyes slide away, - back to unpleasant memorics. “ On the days that Emerson . Wasn’t on the street, be was in the hospital, receiving treatment for a “.. diseasé which has tormented him since. he was 17-years-old _ > . schizophrenia. Schizophrenia has no physical symptoms. People suffering from _ the disorder may suffer from dis- . onganized ‘hallucinations and changes in thinking, delusions, emotion and behaviour. People with schizophrenia may _. become withdrawn from family and" friends and display in- appropriate behaviour, They can also become unmotivated, and are often unable to think and speak “Clearly. “.. Because of these symptoms, Emerson and others with the dis- order have difficulty working ata -»_ Job. Sometimes even coping with ‘daily chores can be a stretch, While. family members and friends often try to help, the dis- oo» tase is often too much for them to “. gope with. That was one of the reasons be- hind the formation of the Terrace - Stepping Stones Clubhouse, The > ° clubhouse fs a meeting place and “activity centre for those with mental disorders, and it has made a large difference in Emerson’s life. - ‘He has something to do with his day now,’’ says Fern Kaska, program manager at the club- ‘house, The clubhouse, located at 3302 Sparks St, opened in March ~ 1993, Programs the clubhouse of- fers include recreational ac- tivities, life skills workshops, and - work placements. One of the more important pro- grams is a low key support group. It's, _Susprising how open the group’ 8 members are, such as Emerson, talking with candor about panhandling on the street, - But his story is not unique, » “T have to be reminded to make ‘my bed,” admits Susan Wallace {not her real name). She is not a ~ © pebellious child — she’s a. grown woman in her fifties who needs help, just to remember daily chores. “I’m not self-sufficient,” she says, She looks forward to ber Support workers arrival, because ce * they can help focus her. Susan was diagnosed as manic -< depressive 35 years ago when she Battling the misconc The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 20, 1995 - AS REHEARSAL TIME — If thare's one thing members of the Step- ping Stones Clubhouse are familiar with, it's hospitals, So it seemed fitting that the first play the group has decided to put on takes a humorous look at the medical profession. Clubhouse ex- ‘\ ecutive Marilyn Hafner wrote the play, imagining what shenanigans might take place in the operating room. She plays the innocent patient who falls into their hands, had a nervous breakdown while working for a telephone compa- ny, “‘My parents had to come for me and take me home. I was 17- years-old then,’’ says Susan. Symptoms of manic-depression can be similar to schizophrenia. Frequently patients with the one disorder are diagnosed with the other. _ oe “After this breakdown, “Susan, who had trained for a ‘teaching . degree at university, took cashier work for six and a half years, But she became depressed and tried to get fired, Since then she has suffered other breakdowns, spending many years in hospitals and once undergoing a lobotomy. ‘Now medication assists her in keeping sane,’’ says Kaska, “Otherwise she might be more moody,’” she says with a teasing smile, Despite these setbacks Susan is now part of the clubhouse execu- live, takes part in many of the ‘. group's activities and recently got married. She is very active compared to other clubhouse members,’ who have difficulty just trying to live in the same world as the rest of us. “I see vision, upon vision, upon vision,” says Jason Moorhouse (not his real name), ~ _,,, He has schizophrenia and the . Cor . ai isorder, makes, him hallucinate - replicas. “fs uncomfortable about admitting he lives there. Because then he has to admit to people that he has a mental illness, “There’s a stigma that people with mental illness aren’t smart,’” explains Emerson. | ; Actually, — many clubhouse members have overcome hand- icaps and gone to college, work- _ing. towards obtaining.their Adult . Basic Education: diploma. 7 “People should treat people with mental iliness as individuals,” says Emerson. “We didn't ask to be that way.” and forget things. In addition, Jason’s medication — up to four pills a day — makes - him very drowsy. He is ablé to go for walks, do laundry and chores and occasionally visit friends. Jason tives in a group. home, and support workers are there. to: - help him when necessary. But he, _ Panic attacks — __ (This account reprinted from the Stepping Stones Clubhouse newsletter) “t's s morhing, please let it be a good day. Oh no, i's | Started. I have an awful feeling all through my body and_ _T gotta run away from here. I go to a friend’s house and feel better. The awful feeling is going away. It’s a very scary thing to go through. It's been happening to me day after day. I must see the doctor. I went to the doctor and ‘got medication. So far, I’m OK now, Schizophrenia Thousands affected SCHIZOPHRENIA is known as youth’s greatest disabler. It typi- cally: strikes individuals in their late teens or early twenties and it is usually a lifelong illness, A common misperception about " schizophrenia is that it leads to split or multiple personalities, In fact, this is a separate disorder, known as mulliple personality disorder. Schizophrenia then, is best described as a split. from reality. Hi Schizophrenia is a biochemical brain disorder and the symptoms of the illness include disorganized thinking, delusions, hallucina- tions and. changes in emotions and behaviour Wi Schizophrenia will affect one per cent of the population, It is estimated that 270,000 of today's Canadians will be dlagnosed with the disease at some point in their lives = Mi Persons with schizophrenia oc- cupy more hospital beds than those with any other illness, In fact, one in every 12 hospital beds im Canada is used by some- one suffering from schizophrenia Mi Schizophrenia costs Canadians more than $2,3 billion in direct health care costs and an addi- tional $2 billion in support costs such as welfare, family benefits and community support services. i Schizophrenia drastically af- fects individuals’ quality of life. Many people with schizophrenia are in prison and sbout one-third of the homeless have the disease. Four out of every 10 persons with schizophrenia will — attempt suicides one out of every 10 will succeed. Mi Schizophrenia has no known cure, Treatwent varies and in- cludes medical and community follow-up. Medications do not completely climinate the symp- toms, and have debilitating side effects. Additionally, the disease disorders thinking, so many people with schizophrenia do not recognize their illness and won't = consent to treatment, ~~ awiener roast an “People should treat. people with: mental illness as individu- als,’? says Emerson. ‘We: didn’t ask to be that way... comes with admitting to having a ‘Mental illness is only part of what ‘some: clubhouse members must quit i couldn't” its se fay? kilts Bist: cope, with daily. "Occasionally, family and friends deny the ‘pos- sibility that’ anything ‘is wrong, choosing to blame the person’s behaviour on simple laziness or stupidity. If it weren’t for the clubhioitse, Peter Myles (not his real name} would have nowhere to go. © ‘A few years. ago, Peter who was ifiaptoved, full timewas. forced Hn cause I had memory lapses, creat- ed by. my illness,” explains. Peter, “7 "began to doubt my own ability, and = my. stamina -decteased,”?. , Peter's family couldn't accept the reasons why he lost his job. "My “family ‘is quite success-.. ful,’ he explains... “They. think that because I’m well on the out- ‘side, I should be able to work... - They think if I’m not working ; Ii must be trying to weasel money. ‘But the stigma which often ~ out of them,” says Peter: There’s frustration on Peter's ». face as he speaks. The others nod in understanding. the activities the Stepping Stones Clubhouse. offers: Th the cannery museum in Prince Rupert, went to. Re Sands‘ lake fof id Went on n forestry tours, CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The | Mail Bag Mining road ‘has problems Dear Sir: _ Redfern Resources of Van- couver proposes to open the old Cominco Tulsequah Chief Mine at the confluence of the Tulsequah and Taku Rivers. ~~ It bas the option of either barging the ore concentrate down the Taku River into U.S. waters for export or construct- ing a 160 km road ‘from the minesite through the coastal mountains to the town of Attin. Redfemm Resources, to its credit, has prepared a thorotlgh plan for the actual minesite and ils operation although there are concerns about the location of their tailings pond. The ‘prob- Jem lies in access and in how the ore concentrate | would move to market. The Taku Wilderness Asso- ciation (TWA) belicves : that the proposed mining road would seriously endanger this delicate coastal wilderness area and would lead to the kind of development, specifically large scale forestry as proposed by Cassiar forest district, manager Gary Miltenberger, that. this boreal ecosystem could not support, “ It’s’ important to stress: that the TWA is not opposed to the: mine itself, only the road. © Our organization. has Prepared a provincial: petition . and an information booklet on. “display at Misty River Books ‘and Don Diego's, © > It documents the’ history of - the area and how this proposed road threatens the flora’ and fauna of the. region. Tf you "agree with our cause,” Please sign the petition, - We are a small group at pres: ent and need-your help. Thank . you and fee] free to wiite our . organization if. you" have any “questions. ° ; a : = “Don Welr i 7 NE Pee W paartn ys ee S240 STEW ETE ATT re Saas Bob Reeds — ‘js all wrong | Dear Sir: I wish to ‘respond to. remarks made by Mr, Bob Reeds after he sailed his plywood boat to. Prince Rupert... . His ‘plans to ‘ask “crown counsel to charge the RCMP “with abduction and illegal Pt a zure of his property seems to. me a slap in the RCMP’s face, :. One, doesn’t have: to look "very fir to see’ the fine work of the RCMP, whether patrolling our streets ‘at night, being shot -- decisions whether. hiking on. ’ cliffs or floating down rivers, > “Mr. Reeds. put: his: life: and quite. possibly: many: rescuers lives at tisk by doing what he did. If the RCMP: hadn’t- stopped, his original trip ‘and: he had’ gotien into. trouble would. he. whole scenario, ‘on® iar’. fines also?. . Terrace, BG More letters, Page A7 : 7 Love that — sunshine | If HAS been very sunny this month, - In fact,” . Could ° set: a tecord for lowest rainfall for _ the month of September, * “Only: 20: ‘millimetres of “rain fell as of last: weekend: = The“ tecord= ‘is 44,2 “mil- - limetres: for all of. Septem- ber. It was set in 1960, 35 means wietre halfivay. eating that al in violent confrontations, OF. contemplate: ‘blaming that . Bill Braam,.