Bonavista, N.L., native Daniel Ryder, seen in 2007 playing for the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL, has been charged with armed robbery. (Courtesy Plymouth Whalers)

A psychiatric report says former NHL hockey prospect Daniel Ryder, who was declared unfit to stand trial after he was charged with armed robbery in January, is fighting severe mental illness.

The 23-year-old is now at the Waterford psychiatric hospital in St. John's, but a psychiatrist says Ryder's mental illness started years ago.

CBC has obtained documents from the province's Mental Health Review Board that say Ryder had a serious psychotic episode in the fall of 2009 and his history of psychosis and mental illness started when he was 19.

The report also said Ryder, the younger brother of the Boston Bruins' Michael Ryder, has a history substance abuse, with alcohol and marijuana.

Daniel Ryder began seeing a psychiatrist in St. John's six months before the robbery. He was prescribed drugs for depression and psychosis but he didn't respond to the therapy.

After his arrest, he was described as withdrawn.

Psychiatrist Dr. Nizar Ladha said Ryder couldn't communicate with his lawyer and was unable to follow the court process. The report says Ryder is responding well to treatment with a different anti-psychotic drug, but his progress is described as slow.

Ladha said he believes Ryder will get his illness under control and he will eventually be fit to stand trial, but he didn't say when.

For now, the Mental Health Review Board believes Ryder is still a significant risk to public safety. Ryder is allowed out of the Waterford hospital on passes in his family's care.