One of the most distressing situations my daughter had to deal with in her struggles to try and recover from substance use disorder and her heroin addiction was the lack of access to any real dual treatment programs. It was very difficult to get a bed in a 5 to 7-day detox program or a 28-day rehab, and most of the programs she was admitted to did not have evidence-based treatment that also addressed her anxiety and other emotional health issues. I cannot help but think that if she had access to mental health treatment, she might not have relapsed and died at age 22 almost one year clean, leaving behind her 9-month-old daughter.
Family Voices United member, Joanne, shares her thoughts on mental health supports and how to better support children, youth, and families.