Madisyn's best friend died suddenly in 2019. This was the precipitating factor for her mental health struggles. As many people do, she began coping with alcohol and developed addiction. 

Madisyn sought help for trauma and addiction from the family Doctor. She was never offered grief counselling, a trauma therapist, cognitive behaviour therapy, addiction counselling, detox in a hospital setting or any other form of help. Just pharmaceuticals. 

Pharmaceuticals should be a last resort but they are often the first and only resort. I've been reading about Scotlands healthcare policies surrounding psychotropic drugs. In Scotland mandatory counselling comes with psychotropic drug prescriptions. Now we're talking! 

As I've stated I would leave the decisions surrounding the safety waiver to the medical health professionals. It's flexible...I would strongly suggest that Canada follow Scotland and make mandatory counselling part of psychotropic drug prescriptions as well. What a great improvement to the system this would be! 

Please continue to share and sign. Thanks for standing with me!!!