Carly and Julie
"Lakeridge Health saved my daughter."
The emotional scars of the Matieuski family are still fresh but Carly Matieuski, a 16-year-old Oshawa resident, and her mother Julie are closer than ever.
Three months ago, Julie was certain she would lose her daughter in a traumatic and life-threatening drug overdose. During her early teenage years Carly began hanging out with 'the wrong crowd'. She was smoking marijuana every day, skipping school, and in her darkest moment, questioning whether she wanted to live.
On September 1, 2014, Carly tried to commit suicide. She was rushed to the Lakeridge Health Emergency Room and then immediately transferred to Sick Kids Hospital where she would receive life-saving treatment and slowly recover.
It was at Sick Kids that Julie and Carly first met Carmen Tardio, a social worker who shares his time between the downtown children's hospital and Lakeridge Health. They formed an instant connection and Carmen ensured the Matieuski's could return to Durham Region and continue their care at Lakeridge Health.
"The continuation of care is so important for anyone, but especially for a young person like Carly," says Carmen. "When I found out Carly lived in Oshawa, I wanted to make sure she was close to home. We have this incredible program; I wanted to advocate for her and I wanted her to be a part of it."
Once transfered to Lakeridge Health, Carly became a patient in the Child and Adolescent Inpatient Program (CAIP), a crisis unit that would help her stablize emotionally.
Carly is now one of 8 students currently enrolled in the Intensive Ambulatory Program (IAP) a unique service offered through the Child, Youth and Family Program at Lakeridge Health. The multidisciplinary program, which usually runs 8-12 weeks, provides a school-like environment for students unable to attend traditional school while dealing with various mental health issues. While attending IAP, Carly focuses on continuing her education while receiving the critical support she needs.
"It's an amazing program," says Julie, "I don't know what we would have done without it. To know she's safe, and that she's getting the treatment she needs. Lakeridge Health saved my daughter."
In coordination with IAP, Carly joined the program's peer support group, a network of 8-10 teenagers who work with occupational therapists to develop social skills and prepare to integrate back into the community.
"I came to this program to get myself together," says Carly. "After what happened, I decided to stop doing drugs. I chose to go through withdrawal and I chose to break off ties with my friends who didn't want to support my decision."
Carmen continues to counsel Carly and Julie and has taken great pride in how far they have come. When asked if their relationship is better now, both exclaim "absolutely!"
On any given day, 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness and only 1 in 5 of those children will receive the support they need. "There is help," says Carly. "Remember that you are who you are, and you can't give up."
"This program can help a lot of people, not just kids, but parents too. This program is so important. It really deserves your support."
Update: Carly is making great strides in her progress - she was recently accepted at O'Neill CVI, a local high school in Oshawa. Once Carly has graduated the IAP program at Lakeridge Health, she will transition back into high school and continue her education, hoping one day to be a graphic designer or social worker. Carly and her mother will continue to see Carmen during the transition and Carly doesn't have far to go if she needs him, his office is just around the corner from her new high school!
