My name is Kevin, and I work as the Peer Support Supervisor at The Royal. I live with schizophrenia.
To me, schizophrenia is a thief. Schizophrenia quickly stole my life. It stole my entire family: I lost my wife, and I lost my children. It stole the home that I had built for us. My business went bankrupt. I was homeless, living in my car.
Schizophrenia took everything. It even stole my hope.
On the advice of a friend, I got a mental health exam. For nine years, I went in and out of hospitals. Everything changed when I got to The Royal. That's where I found hope. Hope for a better future.
I ask for you to give people living with schizophrenia the chance at a better life. Your donation of $50, $100, or even $250 will make a difference for the next client like me. With your gift, you will give them hope.
As a compassionate person, can I count on you to make a gift today?
Or, consider becoming a monthly donor. Safe and secure, your monthly gift will provide the next person like me with the life-changing care they need all year round.
Donate today
During the pandemic, many resources available for people living with schizophrenia vanished. Many of our community support disappeared.
That's why I'm reaching out to you. With your heartfelt gift, you will give more support to the vulnerable people who need help the most.
Your gift will fund a range of life-changing services, like the Integrated Schizophrenia Recovery Program.
The Recovery Program is a special program at The Royal. Its focus is to provide people who have a primary psychosis disorder or significant experience with psychosis, with the knowledge and support they need to reintegrate into the community.
The Recovery Program is made up of a diverse team of passionate staff. It includes nurses, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, social workers, a dietician, and peer specialists. Together, they provide individualized support to each client. Most symptoms can be controlled with appropriate treatment and this kind of expert support.
Clients in the Recovery Program participate in groups of their choosing, some of which include: leisure- and fitness-based groups; a volunteer group; writing and photography groups; and many more.
I was in the Recovery Program for 15 months. This program gave me time to heal... I never had that before. The Recovery Program taught me coping skills and made me feel that I wasn't alone. With help from this program, I was able to find housing and regain control of my life.
With the other hospitals, I survived. But at The Royal, I was able to thrive. The Royal infused me with hope.
And now, I'm proudly working as the Peer Support Supervisor at The Royal. The Peer Support team offers guidance to staff and clients. While we have specialized training in peer support, what sets us apart from the clinical team of doctors, nurses, and social workers is our lived expertise.
What excites me about my work is that I'm serving the clients and the families who depend on The Royal. The key word for me is serving. I'm giving back.
If these programs at The Royal didn't exist, my life would be very different. I would still be living on the streets. I wouldn't have any purpose for my life. And I wouldn't have hope.
Will you join me in making a difference for people living with schizophrenia? Your caring gift will ensure that life-changing programs — like the Recovery Program — are there to help people like me. Please consider becoming a monthly donor. Safe and secure, your monthly gift will help the next person like me... all year round.
Donate today
The Royal changed my life forever. It's a beautiful story, really.
With gratitude,
Kevin Patrick
Peer Support Supervisor at The Royal