Jordan has always worked hard and excelled in school. But after entering Grade 9, they began feeling quite anxious about their performance. They started having panic attacks and not wanting to attend school.
Support from their paediatrician and a psychologist helped Jordan to manage their anxiety, leading to fewer panic attacks. “But when Grade 10 started in September, all the pressure of being back in school returned,” says Kate.
Jordan worried the progress they had made with their mental health had evaporated, says Kate, and they were “feeling very down on themself.”
Around this time, Kate and Jordan had what seemed like a relatively minor disagreement. Unbeknown to Kate and Tom, Jordan felt horrible for how they’d spoken to Kate.
“Then about half-an-hour later Jordan came into the living room and they had a clump of hair in their hands. They had scratches up and down both arms and across their chest,” says Kate.
It was the first time Jordan had self-harmed, and it frightened them and their parents. Kate and Tom tried to comfort Jordan for nearly an hour. But it was to no avail. Everyone agreed it would be best to make the short trip to Michael Garron Hospital.
“We just knew Jordan wasn’t safe at home, so we needed to take them somewhere where we, as parents, could be supported to help them,” says Kate, adding that our hospital is well-regarded for our paediatric services.
Refuge and relief
After an overnight stay in our Stavro Emergency Department, Jordan was admitted to our Slaight Family Child and Youth Mental Health Inpatient Unit.
Meeting the unit’s child and youth workers, nurses, psychiatrists and other staff brought “a huge swell of relief,” says Tom. “They’re very empathetic people who know how to work with teenagers with mental health issues. Their level of kindness was just off the charts.”
The six-bed unit moved to its new home in our Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre in 2023. Designed with patient comfort and recovery top of mind, the unit was built with generous support from The Slaight Family Foundation and thousands of people who donated to our hospital’s historic redevelopment.
The unit’s comprehensive team cares for young people up to the age of 17 who are experiencing mental health crises. They work to stabilize patients and safely transition them home to their families, often to continue treatment in the community.
“The space itself was really reassuring and welcoming,” says Kate. When her family walked into the unit, they noticed a piano, guitar and pet therapy dog. These related to Jordan’s interests and had a calming influence.
And then there was Jordan’s sun-filled room with its large window and picturesque views of Lake Ontario. “When you’re feeling a little scared and you’re not sure what’s going to happen next, getting to see a beautiful sunset is a lovely thing,” notes Kate.
Compassionate support
Kate and Tom recall an early meeting with the care team. “We were both pretty fragile, and I started crying,” says Kate. “A team member passed over some Kleenex, and there was an acknowledgment that ‘yeah, this is really hard.’”
Throughout Jordan’s four-night stay in our Slaight Family Child and Youth Mental Health Inpatient Unit, the entire family received strong support and emotional validation. “The team was just really, really lovely,” says Kate.
The team helped ease Jordan’s anxiety about missing school by communicating directly with school staff, in turn enabling Jordan to focus more fully on recovery.
Kate and Tom also appreciated that when the time came for Jordan to return home, the team thoughtfully recommended a local therapist who could provide the type of ongoing care required by Jordan.
Exceptional care close to home
The road to improved mental health is rarely linear. Jordan continues to have ups and downs, but they’re better equipped to handle them now, says Kate.
“They’re learning to be proud of themself and to challenge themself. They’re learning that in this moment everything might suck, but this moment isn’t going to last forever,” she says.
“And that’s really something I think they learned while they were in hospital: that they can survive a really difficult time.”
Tom says it’s “tremendous” having skilled youth mental health care available locally. “We don’t have to worry about what we’ll do if something goes wrong,” adds Kate. “We’ll walk over to Michael Garron’s emergency department and ask what we should do.”
Out of immense gratitude for the exceptional care their family received – and knowing donations are crucial to our hospital – Kate and Tom decided to provide their support.
“If we can add in a little bit extra that can go somewhere good, then we want to do that because we’ve gotten so much from Michael Garron Hospital,” says Kate.
*Names have been changed to protect the family’s privacy.
Join Kate and Tom in supporting the heart of the east. Please give today at mghf.ca/donate