By Erika Engel
A Meaford mother is hoping to reach new heights for mental illness in honour of her son.
In fact, she's aiming for the highest height in the world - Mount Everest.
Maggie Holmes will climb Mount Everest to the base camp at 17,590 feet on March 26, 2011. She's hoping to raise a dollar for every foot of the mountain - that's $29,035 - for the Canadian Mental Health Association - Grey Bruce Branch.
"Extreme measures are needed for extreme causes," said Holmes.
She knows all too well the extreme needs of those who are mentally ill.
Her son, Ryan, was diagnosed with psychosis at the age of 15. Later his diagnosis was clearer: schizophrenia. Before he turned 21, her son was so tortured by his illness that he took his own life.
It's been almost four years since Ryan's death, and Maggie Holmes is aiming to get help for others who are suffering.
"Too many kids are dying," said Holmes. "In one month, four youth have taken their lives in this area."
She said that mental health is last on the health care list and wasn't even mentioned in the last speech by the Health Minister.
The biggest gap, according Holmes is the one that leaves out kids 16 to 18 who are mentally ill.
When Ryan was diagnosed, she had to take him to London and Toronto to see psychiatrists and to participate in programming.
She said that sometimes it was even harder to deal with stigma than the illness itself.
"There's not enough education," said Holmes, adding that kids showing signs of mental illness are often shrugged off with "typical teenage behaviour."
"Kids don't like to talk about being ill," said Holmes.
She said the process for a youth diagnosed with mental illness goes from illness to addiction - something to take the voices away - to suicide.
Jackie Ralph coordinator at the Grey Bruce Mental Health Association said suicide is the number two cause of death in youth aged 15 to 24, it is second only to automobile accidents.
She said the suicide rate is even higher lately, acknowledging the four recent incidents in Grey County.
"Why are teens committing suicide?" she asks. "We're trying to figure out why."
Ralph said that Monday, May 3 is the kick off for the annual Mental Health week and this year's theme is building a support network.
Essentially the idea is that people who care for others and are cared for in return, feel valued.
Ralph said the local hospital has some services already, and is a good first stop. But mentally ill patients have to be sent elsewhere for further treatment and programs.
The association needs funds to provide more services for youth aged 16 to 18, more funds for families of the mentally ill youth and more awareness.
Ralph said that, in Canada, over $5 billion is spent on treating mentally ill patients.
"If we spent one per cent of that on prevention, we would be a lot better off," said Ralph.
It might be a pie in the sky dream, said Ralph. Maybe even a mountain.
Maggie Holmes wants to climb that mountain - and Mount Everest - with the hopes of raising awareness and raising funds for the local chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association. She wants to see an early intervention program in the area and perhaps a place that youth can go after they get out of the intervention program and before going back into regular society. A sort of half-way house for the mentally ill. Somewhere safe they can use to re-calibrate for their new life, their new counseling and their new medication.
That's her dream, and Mount Everest is her challenge.
"I'm doing it because it's extreme, I'm hoping that people can see that," said Holmes.
"I'm doing it for Ryan, doing it to save kid's lives. No kid should have to go through that."
For more information on Maggie Holmes' climb or to sponsor her in her quest visit www.climbingtoconquer.com.
There will be an art auction at Eclektika Galerie Boutique in Collingwood on June 26. Any local artists interested in donating a piece for the auction should contact Katie or Keith at the Gallery at (705) 812-0627.
For information about Mental Health week and the Grey Bruce branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association call 519 371 3642 or visit www.cmha.ca.
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