Just before his 19th birthday, Georges was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
“Finding out that my first-born was afflicted with a mental illness was an incredibly difficult reality to face,” recalls Georges’ mother, Marie-Alice. “Even though the two relapses were difficult for our family, it was made easier by the way Georges was treated by the medical staff at The Royal – with such respect and dignity.”
Earlier this year, health care organizations like The Royal were forced to limit or cancel programming and services in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
For individuals like Georges, this was detrimental.
“He needs regular injections to help curb his symptoms. Along with psychiatric therapy, medication helps him stay on the path to a stable, successful life,” explains Marie-Alice.
If the mental health needs of individuals living with mental illness are not met, our community could face an immense mental health crisis…
That’s why The Royal has established a temporary, urgent care mental health clinic called C-PROMPT. It’s designed to help people like Georges.
“Primarily on a virtual platform, we are able to provide assessments by psychiatry and psychology, and social work,” says Shelley Hale, the director of the C-PROMPT clinic. “We are also providing medication consultation, brief psycho-therapy, and support to help get our community through until they can access the services they had been accessing previously.”
C-PROMPT clinic services are also available to essential workers, first responders, and health care workers in our region who need to see a mental health professional during these unprecedented times.
“The Royal is here for them when they need support,” says Shelley. “Although we don’t have secured funding for this clinic, we are asking for support from the community. In the meantime, we’re just making this work.”
“Things are going well and it’s due to the help, assistance, compassion and understanding of the out-patient medical staff at The Royal,” says Marie-Alice. “We are so grateful to the C-PROMPT clinic for ensuring the well-being of people in our community afflicted with mental illness.”
