Comments on: When a mental health issue requires a second opinion

By: Sunnybrook

Sunnybrook — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:38:00 +0000

In reply to CAS.

We hear you, CAS. Thank you so much for reaching out and sharing the details of this difficult situation. We encourage you to keep trying.

You are entitled to receive a psychiatric assessment in the hospital nearest to you and your family doctor should advocate for you on this. Many group therapy treatments can still be obtained at CAMH and we encourage you to try this again. Dr. Umesh Jain is a psychiatrist in the community with expertise in adult ADHD.

If you live in the Sunnybrook Department of Psychiatry catchment area, you can ask your family doctor for a referral to our mental health services – referral forms can be downloaded here: https://sunnybrook.ca/content/?page=psychiatry-mental-health-referral

And we also suggest ConnexOntario’s free mental health helpline. Their team can help you find support in your area. Visit http://www.mentalhealthhelpline.ca/ or call 1-866-531-2600.

We’re wishing you well. Remember, you’re not alone.

By: CAS

CAS — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 05:40:00 +0000

I can completely relate to this man’s situation. I was first diagnosed with clinical depression in my early 20’s and I’m now in my 50’s. Two years ago, i was in a dark place, with suicidal thoughts and was diagnosed with both depression and ADHD. My family doctor prescribed Cymbalta. The doctor treating me for ADHD prescribed Concerta and I started coaching/counselling sessions. I’m self-employed and do not have extended health insurance. I was struggling to work on a consistent basis so my income plummeted and I had to discontinue the counselling sessions that were $150/session. I asked both my family physician and the doctor that diagnosed me with ADHD to send a referral to CAMH hoping to get some counselling that would be covered by OHIP. I called CAMH to follow up and the referrals from both doctors fell into a black hole. I was passed around to a few different departments and was unable to find anyone who could help.

I discontinued taking the Cymbalta because after 12 months, I was just in a fog, and still cycling through periods of a couple good weeks, followed by a couple weeks where I didn’t get out of bed other than to fix the occasional meal and go to the bathroom.

I’m now struggling financially and had to give up my apartment and move in with family. I’ve gone back to my family physician asking for help. She suggested I go on welfare, and told me to bring her whatever forms she needs to sign. She ordered some blood work and suggested that I just forget the past and move on with my life.

I’ve contacted a few different psychiatrists, but the wait time to see them is anywhere from 6 to 9 months. I’m going back to see my family doctor this week, but I’m not confident that she’ll have much to offer in the way of help.

I need help. I don’t want to continue like this. I’m not living — I’m just existing, waiting to die.

By: AR

AR — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 21:19:00 +0000

I just came across this and I can relate to much of what the man who wrote the question is describing, although I do not have ADD/ADHD I have suffered from Severe debilitating depression for a number of years and was recently diagnosed with PTSD. I have done more CBT than one would think possible with no appreciable improvement, been on anti-depressants and been seeing a psychiatrist for over 6 years, I have been to two inpatient programs which thankfully I was insured for at the time, and one outpatient for mood/anxiety and PTSD. I have done mindfulness and I feel like whatever small amount of light I may have had left that was fighting to try to get better has slowly gone out and I am dying on the inside and outside. And no I do not use alcohol or drugs to self medicate just to be clear.
As much as I appreciate the comments made-they are somewhat over-simplified, I can say this as someone who has tried many things to get better. I have stopped seeing my psychiatrist also in the past few months and my family doctor is currently maintaining my medication against her better judgement as I have been actively seeking out a new psychiatrist for 2 years, yes that is correct 2 years–and in the city of Toronto that is easier said than done. So giving someone the advice to get a referral to a psychiatrist is almost useless, because I am only one of many who has tried to get help that is not available or does not exist.