Mum in win for sick son

By Melissa Donchi
JUST one month ago, Yarra Glen resident Mary Thomas hoped her mentally ill son would be locked up for his own good.
At 30 years of age, her son Glenn had spent the past 13 years of his life in and out of detox facilities as he battled with his mental illness and substance abuse.
“He was a danger to himself and none of the health facilities would help him,” Ms Thomas said.
“He’d walk into one facility and be drinking at the pub the next day – they had no control over him.”
Ms Thomas said Glenn was rebounded between countless institutions that struggled to deal with his dual diagnosis and said they could only treat his mental illness or his drinking – not both at the same time.
Glenn, who battles schizophrenia and a borderline personality disorder, spent nights alone in the park, was robbed and fell in trouble with the police for his unusual behaviour.
“At one point I just hoped they would lock him up for his own good,” Ms Thomas said.
“At least he would be safe and he wouldn’t be able to drink or escape.”
But now a local rehabilitation facility in The Basin near Ferntree Gully has accepted Glenn as a patient, just weeks after his name was put on its list.
He has been taken in as a long-term patient and hasn’t been allowed out for the first two weeks of his stay.
“They said it would take years to get a place at this facility but it just shows what a bit of publicity can do,” Ms Thomas said.
“I have been campaigning for years to give my son a chance.”
This year Ms Thomas upped her campaign by speaking to the Mail, the Age and ABC radio as well as approaching local politicians and community groups.
“I’m delighted that my son is finally getting treatment but at the same time I am concerned for other families dealing with these issues,” Ms Thomas said.
“Not everyone has the opportunity to campaign like I did and may not know what resources are available.”
Ms Thomas urged anyone dealing with a mental health problem, especially dual diagnosis, to speak up so they could get the help they are entitled to.
“It’s taken me and my son nearly 13 years but if more people get together and campaign for better services this could change,” Ms Thomas said.