Adrienne Lindsay says she feels she is being 'persecuted' as a mother because of her mental illness. (CBC)

A Vancouver mother who has a diagnosed mental illness is speaking out about how her daughter was taken away from her by the B.C. government after she had a breakdown.

"My daughter came barrelling out of the social worker's meeting [after being told she was being sent away] crying and throwing herself at me," said Adrienne Lindsay.

"I've never hit my child. I've never yelled at my child. It just seemed so ludicrous," she said. "I've always been proud of how good of a mother I am."

The B.C. government removed 11-year-old Emma from Lindsay's care in the spring after she had a breakdown while off her medication. It was four months before she was able to get her daughter back.

'I was feeling punished — it's like, you have a mental illness, therefore you don't deserve to parent.'— Adrienne Lindsay

Family information and medical records indicate Lindsay has no history of abusing or neglecting her daughter, but she has suffered for years from depression and infrequent emotional outbursts.

A psychiatrist who recently took on Lindsay's case, Dr. Jamie Paredes, wrote, "She belongs to a subtype [of her illness] in which she suffers rather than make others suffer. … I believe she is a loving mother and … I don't have any concern about her taking care of her daughter independently."

"There is nothing wrong with having a mental illness," said Lindsay. "As long as you do what you can to deal with it. You shouldn't be punished for that."

Three years ago, Lindsay said a physician at a walk-in clinic diagnosed her as having borderline personality disorder and put her on medication, which helped somewhat. She has also since been diagnosed with bipolar II disorder.

On waiting list for therapy

For several months before her child was taken away, Lindsay said she tried repeatedly to get into therapy or to see a psychiatrist but instead was put on long waiting lists — of up to two years. When she needed medical help, she said, she had no choice but to call 911 or go to the hospital emergency department, where she said she would invariably be sent home again.

"This is something I have been struggling with for years … approaching doctors and approaching professionals and trying to get diagnosed and trying to get assistance," said Lindsay.

Adrienne Lindsay, right, says people who know her understand that she is a good mother to 11-year-old daughter Emma. (CBC)

Back in March, Lindsay said a neurologist took her off her drug regime, so she could undergo some tests. Because she was off her medication, she said, she had an emotional breakdown. Her fiancé called 911.

Lindsay was admitted to Vancouver General Hospital and B.C.'s Ministry of Children and Families stepped in to formally remove Emma from Lindsay's care.

"I was feeling punished — it's like, you have a mental illness, therefore you don't deserve to parent," said Lindsay.

"It has ruined relationships in my family. My friends have kind of backed off a bit. It's hard, because I have seen people on TV who have maybe had their kids taken away … and I am not very sympathetic to them. In my head, I'm thinking, 'Oh well, actually, you probably did do something wrong.'"

The Ministry of Children and Families declined to speak directly about why Emma was removed from her mother's care, but spokesman Kelly Gleeson wrote in an e-mail, "Mental health issues would be one factor considered, [but] all factors would determine the ministry's course of action.

"A risk reduction plan — that would include monitoring the safety of the child — would be put in place based on the potential risk to the child to address the safety and well-being of the child," wrote Gleeson. "Our goal is always to return a child to his or her family but only when it is safe to do so."

Mother only allowed supervised visits

Emma was placed in the care of her maternal grandparents, who temporarily moved from Kelowna into Lindsay's Vancouver condominium to look after the girl. Her mother was only allowed restricted, supervised visits. Lindsay was not allowed to return to her condo when she got out of hospital, because Emma was there.

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, B.C.'s representative for children and youth, says parents in crisis often aren't given the mental health care they need. (CBC)

"It ruined our life," said Lindsay, wiping away tears. "How can anybody get ahead when this is happening? I have everything going for me, in terms of being educated, you know, being well spoken — but you know, I've been feeling stuck and hurt and persecuted."

Four months after she lost custody, Emma was returned to her care.

"I don't like the ministry. I think they were totally and utterly wrong," said Emma. "I've known [my mother] forever, and I know [her illness] is not major or horrible."

"I've been diagnosed, and I'm on medication, and I'm functioning. I'm fine," said Lindsay. "It scares me to think of people who don't have a voice — or maybe they do have a voice, but they are saying all the wrong things because they are not on proper medication."

B.C.'s representative for children and youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, said she could not comment on the case directly but that she often sees children in crisis with parents who need but can't get mental health services.

"Quite frequently in these cases, it gets to a situation where it's gone too far, and the children are removed, and the frontline social worker can't command resources in the adult mental health system," said Turpel-Lafond.

"When parents go through that and they can't get the support they need, … they are having a challenge themselves that will affect their capacity," she said. "So, those systems have to work together, and in British Columbia, they have to be more seamless."

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell says his government is increasing services for the mentally ill. (CBC)

Rebecca Shields of the Vancouver branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association said mental health services in B.C. are chronically under-resourced and waiting lists are a huge obstacle.

"This affects all of us," said Shields. "One in five Canadians will have a diagnosable mental illness at some point in their lives, and that means that so many of us — our friends, our families — may have a mental health concern. And if we get adequate support, we can move on."

B.C. premier says services improving

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said his government is putting more money into mental health services, promising a 57 per cent expansion in services across the province. Campbell has a personal interest in the issue, because his father committed suicide when he was a teenager.

"My family has gone through the challenges that people face when they have mental illness, and I think we have to constantly reach out to take care of those people," said Campbell. "We are investing literally millions and millions of dollars to expand mental health services all over the province.

"I can't really speak about [Lindsay's] specific case, [but] I am glad to find out about it. I think the really important thing is to recognize that there are always people involved when there is mental illness. We should be actively giving them the support they need, giving them the care they need, and if this particular case, you know, wasn't done that way, I'd certainly like to hear about it and see if we can fix it."

Lindsay said she is worried about the long-term impact on Emma, because she sees her little girl now trying to be perfect and blaming herself for what happened.

"She does now have a phobia about social workers," Lindsay said. "She's angry. She's hurt, and very angry."