SYDNEY, N.S. — A Cape Breton woman who felt there was a stigma in the health-care system surrounding mental illness and addiction was working towards a goal of seeing changes, but tragically ran out of time.
Twenty-six-year-old Ashleen D'Orsay of Sydney battled mental illness and addiction for years. She lost that battle on Jan. 12, 2021, due to blood poisoning from an infection caused by intravenous drug use.
While grieving an incredible loss, Ashleen’s aunt Amy D’Orsay said they will continue the work Ashleen started and keep mental health and the issues and stigmas associated with it in the forefront until something changes.
“Many people are reaching out for help,” Amy said.
“These people are our mothers, our fathers, aunts, uncles, sons, daughters, coworkers, and friends. They are not just ‘others’ that don’t concern us. They are us and they deserve all the help, love and respect as anyone without a mental illness would receive.”
To raise awareness of the stigma, Amy started a Facebook fundraiser to raise funds for the Ally Centre of Cape Breton, knowing Ashleen utilized the centre.
“I work in pharmacy so I see a lot of people who come in who use those services so it’s a place I believed in even before this happened,” she said.
Amy’s goal was $500 but by Tuesday, more than $5,600 had been raised.
The fundraiser is called 'In memory of Ashleen D’Orsay for The Ally Centre of Cape Breton' on Facebook.
“It’s unbelievable,“ Amy said. “I’ve seen people share it who I have no idea who they are. It’s incredible to know so many people were touched by Ashleen’s story in some way and wanted to help.”
ASHLEEN D’ORSAY
Ashleen was known for her creativity, kindness and selflessness, never leaving her family home without saying, ‘I love you.’
Her struggles with mental illness began in her preteen years, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. In her younger years, Ashleen had access to therapists.
“You age out of having a therapist provided for you,” Amy said. “When you become an adult and are on your own trying to do all those hard things, the rug is ripped out from under you.”
The family believes Ashleen’s drug use began in her teen years, eventually leading to intravenous use. She was hospitalized several times in Sydney and in Halifax.
“Sometimes (it was) because she was suicidal," Amy said. “Sometimes because she wanted to get clean.”
However, Amy said the hospitals wouldn’t keep Ashleen.
“They’d say, ‘you’ve been here a couple days, we can’t do anything for you’ and then send her away even though she was obviously calling out for help.”
Ashleen became hesitant in reaching out for medical care, feeling stigmatized because of her illness in the health-care system.
One night Ashleen was in a motor vehicle accident and found herself at the emergency room in pain with an injured wrist. Amy said health-care workers were helpful and kind until they saw ‘mental health’ on Ashleen’s chart.
“It’s like they think if someone has mental health issues they are less or don’t deserve the treatment everyone else gets because they’re going to abuse it or not go through the process,” she said.
Amy said the stigma Ashleen felt affected her in reaching out for help over the years.
“She always felt treatment wasn’t fair, like she was being pushed way.”
As a result, Ashleen enrolled in the Nova Scotia Community College Marconi Campus in Sydney working toward a degree in social work. Her goal was to help develop a program to combat prejudice and unconscious bias held by those with privilege and in positions of power.
“She wanted to do something to help herself and others like her,” Amy said. “She wanted to work in a program with medical professionals to help end the stigma.”
On Jan. 10, Ashleen was rushed to the hospital suffering from blood poisoning as a result of drug use.
“She was on life support for three days before she died,” Amy said, adding Ashleen’s mother, father, grandmother and boyfriend were at her side.
Grandmother Linda D’Orsay, who worked 42 years in health care, said the mental health department at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital tried everything to help Ashleen.
“She would walk out or refuse,” Linda said.
However, Linda said Ashleen was always scared to go for medical treatment and didn’t feel she was treated as a person.
Linda said she understands people in health care are overworked and knows a mental health patient can be difficult. Some patients are viewed as a problem, she said.
“Under that illness, there is a person. We all deserve respect.”
In a touching obituary written in part by Ashleen’s mother Colleen D’Orsay, it reads, “Ashleen’s name means ‘vision or dream.’ Our dream for her now is to carry out this work in her name and welcome support in doing so.”
Colleen said she’d like to reiterate how much good the Ally Centre does.
“They offer hope and dignity and help keep people alive without making them feel judged,” she said.
“While shame makes folks spiral toward ill health, they thrive through connection and acceptance. In this approach, everyone wins and communities become healthier for everyone. ”
ALLY CENTRE OF CAPE BRETON
Christine Porter, executive director of the Ally Centre of Cape Breton, said due to confidentiality she cannot talk on specifics but said the loss of this bright and beautiful young woman has sent a ripple of sadness and grief throughout the community.
“We share in her vision to put an end to stigma around substance use disorder throughout all of society including those with privilege and in positions of power,” she said.
Porter said her understanding is that Ashleen had plans to go to school to develop programs specific to that vision and had hoped the topic of stigma and its effects on individuals is addressed in every classroom.
“It should be a part of the curriculum in every classroom for all those entering the field of health care, justice, corrections and social work,” Porter said.
“It is also my hope that those with established careers in those fields will examine their own biases and take the steps necessary to change.”
NOVA SCOTIA HEALTH
Carla Adams, a spokesperson for Nova Scotia Health, said while they aren't able to comment on Ashleen's case due to patient confidentiality, they do want to provide the public with information about the services and resources available should they require help.
Adams said there is a team of clinicians from across the province providing virtual mental health and addictions appointments.
This planning was underway prior to the pandemic and was quickly implemented when COVID-19 reached Nova Scotia. Adams said as a result, more than 300 adults and youth in Cape Breton were helped over the spring and summer.
There is no longer a waitlist to receive an appointment date, according to Nova Scotia Health.
Sharon-Montgomery-Dupe is a breaking news and health reporter at the Cape Breton Post.
