ADAPTing to childhood mental health challenges
As sure as children grow up, there isn’t a parent out there who hasn’t wondered: Is it my fault?
For this reason, and supported by BC Mental Health and Addiction Services, the ADAPT clinic was established at BC Women’s & Children’s Hospital in 2012 to help families alleviate the guilt, stigma or shame that they may feel about their loved one’s mental health challenge.
On Monday, ADAPT partnered with Collaborative Opportunity for Resources (CORe) — a committee of interagency professionals who work together to improve service provision across our community — to provide counselling sessions to local families at Richmond Mental Health Child and Adolescent Program (CAP).
“Bringing ADAPT to Richmond helps us reduce barriers and make these services more accessible to families who may not receive them otherwise,” said Tina Lee, CAP clinician and member of CORe Richmond.
Did I do something wrong?
Like all ADAPT counselling, Monday’s sessions primarily dealt with the genetic and environmental causal factors of mental illness.
“Our clients are usually really concerned that they did something to cause the illness in their family,” said ADAPT clinician Emily Morris, who met with several Richmond families over the course of the day. “We really try to help with the guilt and shame that people may be feeling about why they – or their child – developed mental illness by providing accurate up-to-date information from research about the causes of mental illness. We stress that even if there’s family history it’s far from a certainty that someone will develop a mental illness.”
Providing the best care for Richmond families
ADAPT clinicians were excited by the opportunity to bring their unique service across the bridge and into Richmond as the counselling services have typically occurred at BC Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
“Our first sessions were overwhelming successes,” said Lee. “Not only did Emily answer many questions about who develops a mental illness and why, but she also empowers families to take proactive measures to protect their own mental health.”
ADAPT clinicians are willing to return to Richmond if there is additional service demand. ADAPT is available to families or individuals of all ages who have a mental illness and/or a family member with a mental illness.
Please contact Tina Lee directly if you have a client, or know of a family, who would benefit.