Partial Hospitalization Program gave Kevin the support he needed
Kevin Nicholson is happy. You can see the joy in his face when he talks about his career as a technical writer, his role as a grandfather and his recent engagement.
“I didn’t think that would ever happen again,” Kevin says of being in a serious relationship with his fiancée, Rhonda. “She knows my whole story. No secrets. I’m in love with this girl.”
Kevin’s happiness comes after a journey which includes a lifelong battle with both sexual abuse and mental illness.
When struggling Kevin would cry, have difficulty sleeping and would argue often. He was hospitalized on multiple occasions after his family feared for his wellbeing.
However, he continued to struggle.
“Finally, one of my doctors said ‘that’s it, you are going to Ontario Shores,” recalls Kevin.
Following a pair of stints as an inpatient at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores), Kevin was referred to the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), which is a short-term day treatment program for individuals with a serious and persistent mental illness. PHP days are filled with intensive and interprofessional treatment that meets the individual recovery needs of each patient.
Kevin credits PHP for his recovery and for helping him understand his mental illness and how to manage his mental health. Diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, Kevin has learned how to deal with the stressors of life that can amplify the symptoms of his mental illness.
“I now have all the facts,” he says when talking about how to manage his health. “I understand myself and my illness. I feel like I can succeed. I feel like I have a life again.”
Kevin attributes part of his success in PHP to the approach of those leading the program.
“I was treated with dignity right from the beginning,” he says. “It was all on the approach.”
PHP is just one of several specialized assessment and treatment services provided by Ontario Shores to those living with complex and serious mental illness. Along with inpatient programs providing service to people in the adolescent, young adult, adult, geriatric and forensic mental health populations, Ontario Shores has an extensive outpatient program that receives more than 70,000 visits each year.
“I understand myself and my illness. I feel like I can succeed. I feel like I have a life again.” – Kevin Nicholson