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The Truth of the Streets

And my life thereafter ...

Vance Hughes

I've been on and off the streets for eight years. Street life is emotional. It breaks my heart to see very young kids (12 to 14 years old) starting to use hard drugs.

When I first came to be on the streets, I was 19 years old (I'm now 26). I was doing drugs such as LSD, pot and alcohol, and my parents tried to help me stop. But I didn't listen to their rules. So I went to live on the streets.

And I should tell you - I have a mental disorder. At age eight I was put on medication for attention deficit disorder (ADD) and ever since have struggled with ADD, addiction, depression, anxiety, psychosis - you name it.

screening self tests

Try our quick self-tests for mood disorders, anxiety disorders or risky drinking to learn more about signs and behaviours you may be experiencing, or just to learn more what they look like

interactive toolkits

Use some of our online tools for information and assistance with mental disorders. Included are tips, strategies and quizzes to help guide you to information and people that can help.

discussion forum

Use our bulletin board to share your experience with others. From time to time, we may choose to feature posted stories in Visions journal or in our Experiences section.

news

New LGBT Visions - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender

Visions has a brand new issue! Join us as we explore the relationships between sexual orientation, gender identity, mental health and substance use in the LGBT issue of Visions. LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people often face prejudice, discrimination and isolation. Now imagine the doubly stigmatizing effect of being LGBT and having a mental illness or substance use problem. These added stresses can lead, in part, to higher rates of mental health and substance use problems. Through the words of our passionate and courageous writers, learn how others found wellness and resilience through supportive and loving families, spirituality and knowledgeable service providers.

New multilingual pages and e-news on the site, plus brand-new Chinese fact sheets

Be sure to check out our 11 new translated HTML pages featuring welcomes, orientation and summaries of our popular, translated fact sheets including 23 new child and youth fact sheets in both Chinese languages! Click the link in your language of choice from the blue sidebar on the home page or navigate to them in English from our Other Languages page. We've also just launched a new free, enewsletter called WithinSight that will profile, in English, new multilingual/multicultural resources in mental health and substance use plus useful services and upcoming events. Stay updated and sign up today off our Other Languages page.

Anxiety Disorders Association of BC - BC Schizophrenia Society - Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division Centre for Addictions Research of BC - FORCE Society for Kids' Mental Health - Mood Disorders Association of BC

The BC Partners are grateful to BC Mental Health and Addiction Services, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority.

HeretoHelp is a project of the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information. We're working together to help individuals and families better manage mental health and substance use problems. We’re here to help.

Here to Help, A BC Information Resource for Individuals and Families Managing Mental Health or Substance Use Problems