[1] Johnny M, age 44, had a head injury in a logging accident 5 years ago. He has recovered well in many physical respects and there has been much improvement in his head injury and its sequelae. Nevertheless, after one year progress stalled and he is now still irritable, makes rash decisions, and cannot work. He receives a disability pension and continues to live with his wife and children but his violent outbursts make them feel threatened and unable to cope.
 

[2] Amber X, age 17, lives in an SRO in the Downtown Eastside and prostitutes herself to maintain a crack cocaine and crystal meth habit. She is HIV positive. One day, when high as a kite, behaving erratically and provoking strangers, police call in an ambulance. She is taken to St Paul’s emergency, stabilized, and is about to be released that same day in the evening.  
 

[3] Willy F, age 21, is released from prison after an 18 – month term for stealing cars; he has an extensive juvenile record, having begun stealing cars and joyriding at age 13. He is suspected of having FASD, has no job skills, had dropped out of school at age 15, binge drinks and has a longstanding addiction to marihuana which he uses multiple times daily.   He grew up in foster care and has few social supports and only tenuous connections with relatives on a northern reserve.
 

[4] Suzy O, age 56, had been hospitalized at Riverview after repeated psychotic episodes when she was in her twenties. For 2 decades she did the revolving door of psychotic break, stabilization, release, and another relapse a few months later. After Riverview downsizing, she was ‘returned’ to her home community where there were no friends or family left. She ended up on the street, got onto heroin, and was in a methadone program but couldn’t maintain it. She still struggles with depression, is suicidal, and does not trust psychiatric services because they hospitalized her involuntarily. Currently, she sleeps under bridges and in back alleys.
 

[5] Joannie is 10 years old and been diagnosed with early-onset bipolar disorder.   She has a younger sister who is 8. Joannie’s rages are causing the whole family to implode and repeated attempts both in the public and private system to get help for the family have failed as most services offered are for Joannie but not the family as a whole. The government is now looking at removing Joannie’s 8 year old sister from the home and the family is fighting to get support in their home to alleviate the stress and affects on the whole family and not have their family torn apart by removing pieces of it.
 

[6] Donny is a 17 year old boy who has been in the youth emergency psychiatric units several times as well as the inpatient units. He has multiple diagnoses and is now using substances to control his moods instead of the prescribed medication. He is not well enough to be out of the hospital and needs a placement at a longer term treatment center for youth. His 18^th birthday is in 2 weeks and the treatment center only takes youth up to 18. He is denied access to the treatment center due to the admission date being past his 18^th birthday. He is discharged from the hospital and ends up committing a crime and is now in the justice system where, ironically, he and his family get more services.

[1] Johnny M, age 44, had a head injury in a logging accident 5 years ago. He has recovered well in many physical respects and there has been much improvement in his head injury and its sequelae. Nevertheless, after one year progress stalled and he is now still irritable, makes rash decisions, and cannot work. He receives a disability pension and continues to live with his wife and children but his violent outbursts make them feel threatened and unable to cope.
 

[2] Amber X, age 17, lives in an SRO in the Downtown Eastside and prostitutes herself to maintain a crack cocaine and crystal meth habit. She is HIV positive. One day, when high as a kite, behaving erratically and provoking strangers, police call in an ambulance. She is taken to St Paul’s emergency, stabilized, and is about to be released that same day in the evening.  
 

[3] Willy F, age 21, is released from prison after an 18 – month term for stealing cars; he has an extensive juvenile record, having begun stealing cars and joyriding at age 13. He is suspected of having FASD, has no job skills, had dropped out of school at age 15, binge drinks and has a longstanding addiction to marihuana which he uses multiple times daily.   He grew up in foster care and has few social supports and only tenuous connections with relatives on a northern reserve.
 

[4] Suzy O, age 56, had been hospitalized at Riverview after repeated psychotic episodes when she was in her twenties. For 2 decades she did the revolving door of psychotic break, stabilization, release, and another relapse a few months later. After Riverview downsizing, she was ‘returned’ to her home community where there were no friends or family left. She ended up on the street, got onto heroin, and was in a methadone program but couldn’t maintain it. She still struggles with depression, is suicidal, and does not trust psychiatric services because they hospitalized her involuntarily. Currently, she sleeps under bridges and in back alleys.
 

[5] Joannie is 10 years old and been diagnosed with early-onset bipolar disorder.   She has a younger sister who is 8. Joannie’s rages are causing the whole family to implode and repeated attempts both in the public and private system to get help for the family have failed as most services offered are for Joannie but not the family as a whole. The government is now looking at removing Joannie’s 8 year old sister from the home and the family is fighting to get support in their home to alleviate the stress and affects on the whole family and not have their family torn apart by removing pieces of it.
 

[6] Donny is a 17 year old boy who has been in the youth emergency psychiatric units several times as well as the inpatient units. He has multiple diagnoses and is now using substances to control his moods instead of the prescribed medication. He is not well enough to be out of the hospital and needs a placement at a longer term treatment center for youth. His 18^th birthday is in 2 weeks and the treatment center only takes youth up to 18. He is denied access to the treatment center due to the admission date being past his 18^th birthday. He is discharged from the hospital and ends up committing a crime and is now in the justice system where, ironically, he and his family get more services.