I'm Heather, I live with Schizophrenia and I am asking for your help to acquire a Psychiatric Service Dog from Aspen Service Dogs.

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder or mental health disability which affects less than 1% of the Canadian population.

When schizophrenia is active, symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, trouble with thinking and lack of motivation.

People living with schizophrenia are at a high risk for self harm, suicide, abuse and isolation. In Canada, life expectancy is around 65 years old.

 

Symptoms can come on suddenly, triggered by stressful situations, sights, sounds or absolutely nothing at all.

 

This can make normal daily activities, like going to a grocery store,terrifying.
As the sudden onset of symptoms can cause me to hallucinate that someone is stalking me through the store, or all the food is poisoned, among other things.

 

These symptoms are invisible to everyone else around me and schizophrenia is highly stigmatized by society - this means no one knows I am in psychological distress or why, and I'm often afraid to ask for help due to the stigma.

 

This is just one of the many situations where a professionally trained and government certified Psychiatric Service Dog could help me live a better quality of life.

 

 

Aspen Service Dogs is a government qualified Serviced Dog training facility.

 

On September 27th 2021, I traveled with my Father to Edmonton from Calgary, to attend my interview with Aspen Service Dogs.

 

Determining I do qualify as a good candidate for a Psychiatric Service Dog.

 

My Service Dog will be trained specifically for me and my symptoms of Schizophrenia.

The dog will apply deep pressure therapy, used to calm anxiety or aggravated behavior by laying on the person. Disrupt self harm behaviors, do reality checks by confirming the presence of an actual person and help regulate daily routines.

 

As well, the Serviced Dog will seek out nearby people to help in situations where I am not responding to it's trained interventions.

 

I need your help.

Securing my spot on the wait list costs $6000.

After that I will be raising the remaining $30,000 through corporate sponsorship, crowd-funding and my own savings while the dog is being trained.

 

As someone living by myself with this severe mental illness, I work very hard to manage my symptoms and ensure I have a stable network of support services in case symptoms arise. I have not been hospitalized since 2012 and have many goals and aspirations for my life.

 

I believe a well trained Service Dog ensure I am safe in situations where symptoms overwhelm me until I am able to access support services.

 

 

I am deeply grateful for any and all help you can offer.

 

For any person or company which donates over $5000 I will create a professionally framed photograph of me with my Service Dog as a thank you gift.

Donations over $1000 will receive a thank-you card featuring the same photograph of me and the Service Dog.

To learn more about my experience with Schizophrenia, please visit my YouTube channel
https://youtube.com/c/HeatherLMorigeau 

Hiy-hiy Maarsi Thank you for your support