Our broken mental health system is KILLING youth. 

My name is Danielle Keses and early in the pandemic I shared with my family that I was seriously concerned that my mental health was declining, and I was ready to get help.

This is when a whole train wreck of events changed my life. Despite my parents being very supportive, having resources, and willing to chase every lead for support, obstacle after obstacle was thrown at me.

We started with our pediatrician who referred me to the CHEO eating disorders program. After waiting for a few months, I found out I wasn't accepted to any program. I was basically told since I wasn’t yet on my deathbed, I was not top priority.

In turn, CHEO provided a list of private resources to get help elsewhere.  Fortunately, my parents were willing to pay but many teenagers wouldn't have the means to access this.

Here is where the not funny joke comes in.  My mom called EVERY SINGLE name and organization on that long list and was told that NO ONE was accepting new patients, and that all their wait lists were CLOSED.

Finally, after chasing every lead, using personal contacts, begging, I finally had my first appointment 7 months after first reaching out.  This was a long 7 months of feeling hopeless, that no one cared, and only getting worse.

Things only continued to decline. I wasn’t receiving the help I needed. I even went to CHEO ER in crisis one day.  After a very long wait I was told that they had nothing to offer. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. They were making things worse.  If the crisis workers in the only Children's hospital in the region had nothing to offer then seeking help was hopeless.  That experience made things even worse for me and I was back in crisis within several days, then again a few weeks later.

To date, I have never received any help from CHEO despite recommendations that group therapy would be helpful and so on.  Their referrals never materialized.

Fortunately I continued with private help and found the strength within myself to change to get better.  Honestly, some of my determination came from my hatred of the mental health system and wanting to make a change someday.

My story is not unique and all too common.

Did you know that 1 in 4 children who visit the CHEO ER in a crisis end up coming back within 6 months due to their needs of support not being met. 

Youth are suffering with mental health more than ever but access to support is at an all time low. 

The failure to meet our needs is only causing more and more children and teens ending up in a crisis and at CHEO ER. Crises that are 100% preventable. 

My story cannot keep being repeated.

I am calling on Ontario's minister of health, Silvia Jones, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, as well as the CEO of CHEO,  Alex Munter, for change.

We need to fix the way mental health is being provided to assure that everyone has timely and affordable access to the support they need.

Support kids now to lead them to lifelong health.