After twelve-year-old George’s first encounter with mental health services at Humber’s Apotex Emergency Department, he and his family were referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Urgent Care Clinic.

Twelve-year-old George’s first encounter with mental health services began at Humber’s Apotex Emergency Department.

Presented with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and suicidal ideation, George and his family found themselves navigating unfamiliar territory as they were new to Canada. Despite the language barrier and their limited understanding of anxiety disorders, George’s parents approached the situation with hope and unwavering support.

The family was promptly referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Urgent Care Clinic (CAUCC), where they met Psychiatrist, Dr. Caitlin Yee. Dr. Yee’s initial goals were to develop a comprehensive safety plan and initiate OCD treatment within a six-session framework. The treatment plan incorporated a multifaceted approach, including psychoeducation to help the family understand OCD, medication management to address immediate symptoms, introduction to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) concepts, and preliminary exposure therapy techniques.

OCD is a complex disorder that demands significant effort from both patients and their families. Often, the treatment process can be arduous, with symptoms potentially intensifying before improvement becomes apparent. George, however, had two critical advantages: a dedicated support team at Humber and loving supportive parents at home.

As the initial treatment phase concluded, it became evident that George would benefit from continued care. Dr. Yee took important steps by agreeing to continue seeing George in the outpatient clinic and arranging for ongoing exposure therapy sessions.

While George’s journey is far from over, and he may face additional challenges—possibly even requiring inpatient care in the future—his family remains optimistic. The unwavering support and openness to treatment demonstrated by George’s parents have provided him with a solid foundation for managing his OCD.

Looking ahead, George’s family and his care team at Humber share a common hope: that with continued support and treatment, George will develop effective strategies to manage his OCD through adolescence and into adulthood.

*Names and photos for all patient profiles have been changed for the comfort of patients and their families.