The Crisis Intake Team (CIT) is ready for your call.
Former Vanier client Bryan Boyd never thought about what life
would be like a decade in the future. In fact, he never even
thought about what the next day would bring. That all changed when
he found himself alone and living on the streets of London.
Bryan sounds like he's been through a battle. He has the voice
of a shell-shocked young man, and he's still fighting his way
through. The remarkable thing about Bryan is his capacity for
self-reflection and a determination to change.
Bryan says, "When I was younger, I didn't care about anything or
anybody, including myself." He describes his own behaviour as
violent, and his life as chaotic and filled with bad choices and
the wrong people.
There is a history of depression in Bryan's family, and his home
life was deeply troubled. He didn't get along with his parents or
siblings, and at eleven he was separated from them and moved to
several foster homes in London. The chaos and violence continued
for years.
He lived in residence at Vanier for a year while attending
grades seven and eight at White Oaks Public School. That year, like
many years before, was characterized by suspensions and poor
grades. "In school, I got A's when I worked at it, but it was a
choice not to. I didn't think about the consequences of anything I
did. That was the year I hit rock bottom," remembers Bryan.
Eventually, he ended up in the custody of Children's Aid Society
(CAS).
Although it didn't seem like it at the time, that year was
pivotal for Bryan because he was diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder.
Earlier on he had been diagnosed with ADHD, but the medications he
was given were ineffectual. A proper diagnosis means he has an
opportunity to more fully understand his own feelings and
behaviours. He also has the possibility of moderating them with
appropriate medication.
At seventeen he found himself out on his own. By nineteen things
had deteriorated, and he was living on the streets with nothing to
look forward to.
In a classic turn, he woke up one day and realized he didn't
want to live the life he was living anymore. He recognized if he
didn't take control of it himself, nothing was going to change. So
he went deep within and started to imagine a new life.
There are a lot of kids, especially the younger ones, who at
this time of the year get pretty ramped up as Christmas
approaches. Problem behaviours can e
ASIST Workshop Feb 2 & 3, 2012
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Vanier receives United Way funding for 2011/12
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Vanier receives RBC Donation to support French language counselli