Your Gifts: helping children and their families lead happier lives

"When I thought I couldn't cope, they encouraged me to find a way. The help we've received from CAMH has been tremendous. We've really come a long way." Darlene Byrom.

Back in 1999, school was difficult for Alex Byrom. Six years old at the time, he had trouble concentrating and couldn't sit still for long periods of time. His mother, Darlene, was receiving a lot of negative feedback from his teachers.

Darlene came to the Child, Youth and Family Program at CAMH to find help for her son. The support she received far exceeded her expectations and made a profound difference in her son's life -- and her own.

Alex's challenges compounded the stresses in their lives: money was tight, and Darlene, a single mother without extended family nearby, was facing serious health problems and multiple surgeries. "I was at the end of my rope," she says.

Alex and Darlene worked with a care team at CAMH, primarily with Marylynn Reddon-D'Arcy and Susan Lytle, Child and Youth Workers.

Darlene and Alex discovered that his struggles were to a large extent part of having attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. With medication, and problem-solving skills he learned at CAMH's Dinosaur Social Skills Program, he is doing well in school. Now 10 years old, he feels good about himself and loves to read, especially the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter series. His improved concentration has helped him to achieve a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Darlene attended the Incredible Years Parenting Program at CAMH, where she gained confidence in her parenting and learned new approaches. She came to realize that in addition to her other medical problems, she was suffering from depression; she is now able to manage this with medication and therapy. "I am the kind of person who would never ask for help," she says. "I wouldn't have come here if it wasn't for Alex. I would have kept it to myself. The people at CAMH helped me through that whole difficult time."

Darlene makes a point of being open about her experiences at CAMH. "People really need to speak out and not to be ashamed," she says. "It happens, and there is help -- just go out and get it! People are there to help you."

The Child, Youth and Family Program is a joint program of CAMH and the Hospital for Sick Children. It offers mental health services to families and children with emotional, behavioural, psychological or psychiatric problems. Multidisciplinary treatment teams provide assessments and follow-up treatment specifically designed for each particular child and his or her family.

"It is an honour to earn clients' trust and have them share their lives with us. It's not always easy to let people know when you are struggling and need help. It's a sign of real strength."  -- Susan Lytle (right), CYW, Child and Youth Worker, CAMH

"I have great admiration and respect for Darlene and Alex: their strength, their generosity of spirit and their resourcefulness. It's very rewarding to work with them, to see them make changes in their lives." - Marylynn Reddon-D'Arcy (left), CYW, Child and Youth Worker, CAMH

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