Testimony of Dr. Lori Triano-Antidormi

I am the mother of Zachary Law-rence Antidormi (above). Zachary was murdered on March 27, 1997, at the age of 2 ½. Zachary was playing with his best friend when our neighbour, Ms. Lucia Piove-san, came out of her house, with a large kitchen knife tucked under her cape and stabbed my little Zachary 12 times. My beautiful Zachary died as a result of his injuries and, as you can imagine, my life was changed forever. I did not have my beautiful boy; I was rendered non-functional for almost a year; and, people now came to call me ... a “bereaved mother” and a “victim”. Ms. Piovesan, who was 60 years old at the time of the act, suffered from a serious mental illness. She suffered from paranoid schizophre-nia. Her delusions led her to be-lieve that the spirit of her own dead son lived within my Zachary. She stabbed Zachary numerous times to release her son’s spirit from Zachary. Ms. Piovesan was found Not Criminally Responsible. Ms. Piovesan had a history of er-ratic behaviour. Over the years, she had come in contact with the hospitals, various doctors, psychia-trists, and the police, but she was never properly assessed or treated. We had called the police to our home more than a dozen times, with the hope of having her

apprehended and assessed. Ms. Piovesan’s daughter also tried, without success, to have her mother apprehended, assessed and into treatment, but she too continually hit barriers. Ms. Piove-san’s daughter, as is true for much of the public, did not understand her mother’s thinking or her mother’s behaviour. She did not understand her mother’s mental illness, and she did not appreciate the quality of her mother’s delu-sional thinking...she tried to correct it and challenge it....and, in the end, it was her mother’s delusional thinking that formed the basis of her actions – to murder my son to release the spirit of hers. This year, on March 27, I was home from work, owing to the fact that since Zachary’s death, I have taken that day off, mainly for the purpose of self-care. It was on March 27, 2013 that a verdict of Not Criminally Responsible was reached in a tragic case in Ontario. It was determined that the individ-ual who committed the crime suf-fers from a serious mental illness and owing to the nature of his ill-ness, he engaged in behaviour which led to the death of another human being. The media cover-age on this case and on Bill C-54 stirred feelings in me that surprised me. Given the intensity of these feelings, I felt compelled to explore them further.

Bill C-54 stirs in me, feelings of upset. The bill is very stigmatiz-ing and punitive and does not reflect an accurate understand-ing of serious mental illness. The creation of a high risk cate-gory, based on brutality of the crime, for example, is not founded in any evidence. Brutality of the crime does not determine risk. Drawing attention to brutality of the crime serves instead to perpetuate a myth that people with mental illness are violent. Further, length-ening the one year review to three years for the high risk accused is, in my opinion, punitive, not reha-bilitative. I do not understand how this Bill will accomplish what it claims to be one of its main goals – namely, to enhance public safety. It is my understanding and experience that the Review Boards, which review cases annu-ally and determine the level of security for those found NCR, work very hard to balance public safety with the rights of those with mental illness, and their efforts seem to be working. My family was not protected. The lack of protection was not, how-ever, due to flaws in current NCR legislation but to a mental health system that is not working and has many gaps. Bill C-54 would not have protected my family but an improved Mental Health System might have. As already stated, the current NCR legislation appears to be working, with recidivism rates of NCR accused lower than persons found criminally responsible and managed by the corrections sys-tem. I find myself repeatedly ask-ing, why target individuals after the crime is committed, rather than directing more attention to prevent-ing such crimes in the first place.

VOLUME 27, NUMBER 2, Summer 2013 MANITOBA SCHIZOPHRENIA SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

EDITORS Sangeetha Nair, Kim Heidinger

Inside This Issue

A Future Without Discrimination…. 2

Call for Better Bill to Enhance Public

Safety……………………………….. 3

MSS Annual General Meeting….... 3

Not Myself Today @ Work….… 4 - 5

Thank You Anne Marie .....….……..5

Save the Date ….……….……..….. 6

MB Housing Residents at Higher

Health Risk ………………………… 7

WRHA unveils new Mental Health

Crisis Centre ………………………. 7

Donation Form………BACK COVER

Slain Boy’s Mother Opposes Tougher Laws for

Offenders with Mental Illness

...Continued on Page 3

2

A Future Without Discrimination

Photos by Sangeetha Nair

THE Manitoba Schizophre-nia Society organized a pic-nic in the Bonny Castle Park to celebrate National Schizo-phrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day on May 24th. Over 80 people from all walks of life had come to join in the celebration. There were two little girls with their young fathers. There were families and friends. There was a six- month old baby

with her young mother and there were volunteers who came because they believe in hope. Jane Burpee, the public edu-cation coordinator for MSS said, " It isn't about statistics. It isn't about the DSM 5. It is about the individual journeys of courage and success which we so humbly admire. "Having young children at the celebration gives hope

that they will grow up with an understanding of mental illness, which, in turn will give us a generation that will change stigma into compas-sion in the future." This was MSS’s second year celebrating the National Schizophrenia and Psycho-sis Awareness Day.

Event Coordinators Karen Kaplen and Jane

Burpee

3

When I read about the high profile NCR case

in the paper and learned that people had

noticed the mental health of this individual

deteriorating, and that he attended a walk- in

clinic just a day before the killing, with his

main presenting complaint related to his

thinking, I could not help but wonder, what

happened at that walk- in clinic.

Disordered thinking is a main characteristic of

schizophrenia, and this man was seeking

assistance given he was troubled by his

thinking. Why was he not admitted for fur-

ther assessment and treatment of his com-

plaints and psychiatric status? Would it have

taken too much time and effort? Were no

psychiatric beds available? Did the attending

physician carry out a proper assessment, did

he have the knowledge to make an accurate

diagnosis or did he consider a referral? I

can’t help but ask, as I did some 16 years

ago; did a faulty mental health system fail the

families of the victim and the individual who

committed the crime due to his mental ill-

ness. We must remember, both families are

victims.

Bill C-54 seeks, it claims, to protect the public

and support victims. The mental health com-

munity supports the amendments related to

victims’ involvement; and, to this end, I can

say that, as I victim, I have been treated with

respect and consideration. No one is arguing

against the amendments pertaining to vic-

tims’ involvement. Other components of the

bill, however, are ill-informed and not evi-

dence based; and, as I have already indi-

cated, they are stigmatizing and punitive and

lead the public to believe that people with

mental illness commit these acts because of

ill intent created out of a sound mind. It is the

mental illness that leads to the act.

Understanding Zachary’s murder was not

easy for me, even as a psychologist. Under-

standing mental illness is complicated and,

for victims, such as myself, there is a strong

need to hold someone accountable for the

murder of their loved ones. The “lock ‘em up

and throw away the key” approach, however,

has a vengeful nature and points the finger in

the wrong direction. It does not reflect any

attempt to understand the complexity of men-

tal illness. Until the government directs their

efforts at improving the mental health system,

versus creating a bill like C-54 which will not

protect Canadians, we are no better off.

Zachary was murdered over 16 years ago.

Over these years, I strongly hoped our gov-

ernment would take leadership in helping

people with mental illness so they never get

to the point of committing a crime. Instead,

Canadians are presented with a bill that will

not protect the public or help prevent a crime

committed by someone with a mental illness.

As a victim, I ask that this government work

with both the mental health community and

victims to create a bill which will actually be

effective in enhancing public safety rather

than one that will only negatively impact peo-

ple with mental illness.

Triano-Antidormi was part of a group speaking out against Bill C-54 which the government has said will improve public safety by placing tighter restrictions on some offenders.

Call for Better Bill to Enhance Public Safety

Psychologist and mother, Dr. Lori Triano-Antidormi

...Continued from Page 1

MSS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

July 23, 2013 12:00pm-1:00pm

Guest Speaker: Nancy Parker Director of Adult Community Mental Health – Crisis Services, Mental Health Crisis Response Centre

Norwood Hotel

112 Marion Street, Winnipeg, MB A light lunch will be provided.

Please RSVP to Viola at 204-786-1616 by July 19.

4

Not Myself Today @ Work

By Mariianne Mays Wiebe

HAVE you ever had a work day when stress

got the better of you? When you weren’t

feeling quite yourself? A new national cam-

paign called Not Myself Today aims to raise

awareness of mental health issues in the

workplace by encouraging people to pay

more attention to their own mental health

and well-being. Other goals of the campaign

are to positively change attitudes and be-

haviours towards those living with mental

health difficulties or illnesses, and to influ-

ence positive changes in policies around

mental health in the workplace.

The U of M participated in Not Myself Today

@Work day, an event that took place on

June 6 and is part of an initiative by Partners

for Mental Health, a national organization

dedicated to transforming how Canadians

think about and support mental health.

Launched on May 9, the campaign aims to

provide resources for the support of men-

tally healthy workplaces, and culminates in a

special day when workplaces across Can-

ada come together to hold special events to

raise awareness about mental health in the

workplace.

The website of Partners for Mental Health

notes some disturbing statistics that should

make us understand mental health in the

workplace as a significant issue. Over the

next 12 months, 7 million Canadians will

experience a mental health problem. One in

three workplace disability claims are related

to mental illness, and each day, 500,000

people are absent from work due to mental

health reasons.

It’s because of this that the U of M has part-

nered with Partners for Mental Health for

Not Myself Today @Work day as part of a

larger commitment it has recently made to

addressing issues of mental health in its

student and employee populations.

Over the next year, consultant Stephanie

Loewen will work with staff, faculty and stu-

dents as well as with officials and col-

leagues at the university in order to create a

mental health strategy to support mental

health initiatives for students and in the

workplace at the U of M. Loewen notes that

the university is already well on its way to

creating that strategy. She says, “The U of

M places emphasis on the importance of

employee wellness through the Outstanding

Workplace Initiative. In addition, the U of M

is currently developing a mental health strat-

egy that will seek to enhance the well-being

of all students, faculty and staff as well as to

increase support to employees with mental

health issues.”

The U of M’s mental health website page

states that, “We are committed to attracting

and retaining the very best staff and faculty

members. To do that we strive to create a

psychologically safe workplace; one that

promotes the mental health and well-being

of the workforce. The U of M is committed to

assisting and supporting staff and faculty

with mental health issues, be it their own,

that of their families or their students.”

Loewen has been consulting with faculty

and staff and students since April. In early

June, faculty and staff will have another

opportunity to inform the strategy process.

All employees will receive a request via

email to fill out an anonymous survey about

student mental health. The survey aims to

get a better understanding of the nature and

extent of the impact of student mental health

issues on employees at the university.

Loewen hopes that many people will take

the opportunity to share their experiences

with students in order to reveal areas for

improvement and where more support is

needed for employees.

Over 1,100 mood badges, 500 stickers and

other promotional items were distributed to

faculty and staff at the Campus Beautifica-

tion Day barbeque.Workplace wellness tips

for improving mental health at work are be-

ing shared on

a daily basis on U of M social media sites.

Employees are encouraged to wear their

mood badge in support of mental health and

wellness in the workplace, and in solidarity

with our coworkers, staff and students living

with mental health issues.

Q&A with Stephanie Loewen

How is mental health — flourishing or

languishing — displayed in a workplace

or community?

Positive, good or “flourishing” mental health

displays itself in so many ways in the work-

place and in the learning context. Staff

members that are flourishing are more pro-

ductive, efficient, innovative, resourceful and

work better with their colleagues and clients.

Employers reap the benefits of promoting a

mentally health workforce in many ways, but

tangibly, there are fewer costs related to

disability claims for mental illness, and they

have greater success at hiring and retaining

staff. A mentally healthy workplace is one

where all employees enjoy work-life bal-

ance, clearly understand their roles and

have the opportunity to contribute to deci-

sions about how work gets done.

And what about students?

Students who are flourishing in their mental

health are often active in community life and

building community. They have better learn-

ing outcomes and skill development, which

has been shown to lead to higher retention

rates and student success.

Any person who is flourishing in their mental

health is also less likely to engage in prob-

lematic substance use, more likely to be

physically healthy, less likely to engage in

criminal or antisocial behaviour and are

more likely to outlive their less-mentally well

(also known as “languishing”) counterparts.

...See Next Page

Photo

by M

ike

Latc

his

law

Stephanie Loewen, U 0f M Mental Health

consultant

5

ON behalf of the MSS Board, staff and volunteers I wish to honour, congratulate and thank Anne Marie Grant for her passionate and dedicated service to the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society as the chair of the Iris Gala for the last 6 years. Under Anne Marie's leadership the Gala grew in sophistication and its fundraising efforts. It is estimated that during the last 6 years that approximately $170,000 was raised through the Iris Gala Committee. The Iris Gala is a unique time of networking with other mental health organizations, various levels of government, service provid-ers and corporations. This year alone, we raised approximately $43,000!

Chris Summerville, Executive Director

Thank You Anne Marie!

…Continued from Page 4

Can you say anything about the workplace side of the

strategy?

I think it is important to make note of the fact that for the workplace

mental health side of the strategy, we are working very closely with

Learning and Development Services, and the Outstanding Work-

place Initiative to ensure the strategy complements and supports

the ongoing work taking place under the OWI. [As mentioned in the

article, surveys and focus groups are also part of the consultation

process.]

Is there anything else we as a community should take into

consideration with regard to mental health?

A staff member or student with a mental illness can be flourishing

in their mental health. It is a common misunderstanding that per-

sons with the lived experience of mental illness are also unwell or

don’t take good enough care of themselves, or are weak somehow.

In my experience, some of the most flourishing people that I’ve met

have been those with mental illness. I think this is due to the fact

that they are more aware of and sensitive to their own needs. They

are often more educated about the key elements of recovery —

and these are the building blocks of mental wellness.

Can you name some of those building blocks of mental

wellness ?

Healthy connections and relationships; taking breaks away from

stressful situations and practicing being in the moment or being

mindful, exercising and body movement, reaching out for help and

being there to support others, practicing generosity and trying new

things.

This article was first published in the University of Manitoba news-

paper, The Bulletin.

6

Hosted by the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society Date: September 9, 10, 11

Venue: Fort Garry Hotel Conference Centre www.sscnationalconference2013.ca

SAVE THE DATE

A support group for young people

(15-30 yrs) living with psychosis,

schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder.

Meetings held 1st Tuesday of every month

4:30 p.m – 5:30 p.m

FACES 100-4 Fort Street

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES

TOGETHER

This 4-session national education program for family

members and friends of individuals living with and

recovering from serious mental illness aims to

increase accessibility to Canadian-based information

on the topics associated with living daily with a

mental illness.

This 4 week workshop will run each Tuesday

evening at the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society

100-4 Fort Street, Winnipeg

5:30pm to 7:30pm

Starting: November 5th, 2013

Ending: November 26th, 2013

For information and registration call

204-786-1616

Registration is now OPEN! Two ways to register: Online or Paper Form by visiting the conference website. Bursaries are

available. If you have questions please contact us at 204-786-1616.

Registration Rates Full Conference: Bursary for PWLE (person with lived experience - consumer)

PWLE (person with lived experience - consumer) Rate - $125.00 Full-Time Student Rate - $250.00**

Family Member Early Bird Rate - $300.00* Family Member Rate - $375.00

Regular Early Bird Rate - $325.00* Regular Rate - $400.00

*Early Bird Rate in effect on/before July 15, 2013 **Letter of confirmation of enrollment in full-time program required.

7

resources for appropriate follow up care

as needed.

The new centre will also be home base

to the Adult Mobile Crisis Service, which

currently provides crisis intervention and

suicide-prevention services to 10,000

adults in Winnipeg every year.

The new 27,370-square-foot centre is

located on the corner of Bannatyne Ave-

nue and Tecumseh Street.

Tell us what you think of this new cen-

tre. Email your responses to

specialevents@mss.mb.ca

or call us at

204-786-1616. THE Mental Health Crisis Response Centre (CRC)

opened its doors on June 3, at the Health Sciences

Centre. It is expected to ease the burden put on the

city’s emergency rooms, which deal with more than

10,000 mental health-related crisises

each year.

“Individuals in Winnipeg with a mental

health crisis no longer have to go to

an emergency room for care as we

open Canada’s first dedicated facility

for mental health crises and emergen-

cies,” Premier Greg Selinger said.

“Highly skilled mental health profes-

sionals will be available 24 hours a

day, seven days a week for those who

need them.”

The first-of-its-kind- in Canada, the

$12.3 million bilingual facility will staff

more than 35 mental health profes-

sionals who will work to provide ser-

vices such as integrated mental

health assessment, crisis intervention

and mental health crisis treatment.

They will also connect patients to key

A study on social housing by the Manitoba

Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) at the

University of Manitoba has found that Mani-

tobans living in social housing face in-

creased levels of mental health issues,

illness and teen pregnancy compared with

those not living in subsidized social hous-

ing. In addition, women in social housing

are less likely to engage in preventative

health practices such as breast cancer

screening.

On a more positive note, individuals in so-

cial housing are doing better on cervical

cancer screening and childhood immuniza-

tion rates compared to other low income

Manitobans.

“For most of the health status measures,

poverty―not social housing―was found to

be the most important factor in explaining

the level of mental and physical health chal-

lenges facing those living in social housing,”

explains Mark Smith, lead author of the

study.

“Still, a few outcomes were worse in social

housing even after taking into account pov-

erty,” cautions Smith.

The two-part study, Social Housing in Mani-

toba, looked at data on 31,000 Manitobans

living in social housing com-

plexes that are owned and man-

aged by the Department of

Housing and Community Devel-

opment. Nearly half of the resi-

dents are under the age of 20

and about 65 per cent of resi-

dents over the age of 20 are

women. About 30 per cent of all

units are occupied by single

parent families.

The premature mortality rate

(death before the age of 75

years) was twice as high in so-

cial housing as compared to all

other Manitobans. The rate of

suicide was four times higher,

and in some regions, Schizo-

phrenia was as much as eight to

10 times higher in the Social

Housing cohort. The latter find-

ing is likely due to an increased

need for social housing in this

vulnerable population.

In terms of education, children

in social housing had lower rates

of being deemed ready for

school (in kindergarten testing)

and had lower rates of high

school completion compared with residents living else-

where.

The researchers make several recommendations

based on the results of the study. These include: im-

prove levels of breast cancer screening in women living

in social housing; address high-school completion rates

in lower socio-economic neighborhoods, identify factors

contributing to higher rates of respiratory illness; and

develop a more integrated approach to providing and

delivering programs to Manitoba housing clients.

Manitoba Housing Residents Have Higher Risk

of Physical & Mental Health Problems

Report finds residents of Manitoba housing face challenges beyond socio-economic factors

WRHA Unveils New Mental Health Crisis Centre

Apartment complex operated by Manitoba Housing

Premier Greg Selinger pulls the wrapping off "A New

Day Will Dawn", a triptych by artist Kathleen V.

Crosby, in the lobby of the new Mental Health Crisis

8

Manitoba Schizophrenia Society is a consumer focused, family sensitive mental health self help organization whose mission is to

improve the quality of life for those affected by schizophrenia, psychosis and co-occurring disorders, through education and peer support.

Reasons for Hope is the official newsletter for the Society. It is published quarterly. Submissions are invited. Opinions set forth in

this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Society or its members. Reprinting of articles is permitted with the proviso the

Society is given appropriate credit.

North & South Eastman

21 Loewen Blvd.

Steinbach, MB R5G 0L4

Phone: 1(204) 371-0824

Fax: 1(204) 346-0423

eastmanmss@mymts.net

Interlake

Box #101

Selkirk, MB R1A 2B1

Phone: 1(204) 485-1253

Fax: 1(204) 334-7880

bevking@mymts.net

Parkland

Box 95

Pine River, MB R0L 1M0

Phone: 1(204) 648-3316

parkmantim@hotmail.com

Norman

Box 3864

The Pas, MB R9A 1S4

Tel/Fax: 204-623-3387

teresa@mss.mb.ca

SMHC

825 Manitoba Ave. Box 9600

Selkirk MB R1A 2B5

Phone: 1(204) 482-3810 ext 416

Fax: 1(204) 886-3821

eric@mss.mb.ca

We Provide Services

Around the Province

Manitoba Schizophrenia

Society

100-4 Fort Street

Winnipeg, MB R3C 1C4

Phone: 1(204)786-1616

Fax: 1(204) 783-4898

Toll Free: 1-800-263-5545

Website: www.mss.mb.ca

Email: info@mss.mb.ca

Regional Services Burntwood

43 Fox Bay

Thompson, MB R8N 1E9

Phone: 1(204) 677-6056

Fax: 1(204) 677-5534

selfhelp@cmhathompson.ca

Central

309 Main St. Box #129

Winkler, MB R6W 4A4

Phone: 1(204)362-3027

Fax: 1(204)325-8742

msscentral@mymts.net

Brandon & Assiniboine

Box #413 Souris, MB R0K 2C0

Phone: 1(204) 204-724-9043

mss.nshewchuk@gmail.com

MANITOBA SCHIZOPHRENIA SOCIETY

Board of Directors Winnipeg Office Staff Outreach Workers

MSS is a registered non-profit organization. Charitable donation #88938 3998 RR001

Single, $15 Family, $25 Corporate, $50

Donation $___________________

I/We would like to give a monthly donation of $________________

Visa / MC: ___________________________________Expiry Date_____________ (For a pre-authorized payment from your chequing account, please enclose a

cheque marked VOID)

Name:_______________________________ Phone:________________________ Address:____________________________________ City: __________________ Province: ______ Postal / Zip Code:__________ Email: _____________________ Signature:____________________________ Date: ________________________

I am: Mother Father Sibling

Consumer Service Provider Other

I am renewing my membership

Members receive the MSS Reasons for Hope

newsletters and invitation to MSS events.

Please make cheques payable to:

MSS

100-4 Fort Street

Winnipeg, MB R3C 1C4

MSS only receipts donations over $15.00.

Donate to MSS monthly!- For more

information on how you can become a monthly

partner with MSS call 204-786-1616

Wilma Schroeder, President

Amy Butcher, Secretary

Annette Osted, Treasurer

Directors:

Barb Madden

Chantal Driedger

Doug Tiltman

Heather Carr

Julia Hoeppner

Louise Chernetz

Tammy Lambert

Terry Broza

Tracy Stople

Chris Summerville

Rey Schellenberg

Viola Healey

Jane Burpee

Karen Kaplen

Eric Fraser

Executive Director

Accountant

Administrative Secretary

Public Education Coordinator

Peer Program Support Worker

Peer Support Worker

Nancy Shewchuk

Kim Heidinger

Tim Shewchuk

Diane Findlay

Bev King

Rhonda Heskin

Teresa Roberts

Brandon & Assiniboine Region

North & South Eastman Region

Parklands Region

Central Region

Interlake Region

Burntwood Region

Norrman Region