Madchen Amick opens up about her son Sly Alexis’ battle with bipolar 1 disorder and the efforts she’s making to advance mental health with her nonprofit Don’t Mind Me Foundation.

The 52-year-old actress, who is mother to son Sly, 30, and daughter Mina Tobias, 29, with husband David Alexis, 60, talks to People Wednesday about how her oldest child was diagnosed.

“He was a normal kid and got along great with the teachers and coaches,” Sparks said. Nevada said of her son, who she said had good grades and played track and field before entering college at UC Irvine, California.

Sly’s behavior changed when he witnessed the death of a classmate when he was a freshman, when he started using drugs and alcohol, and his personality changed.

The “Riverdale” actress said of her son: “There was a lot of false thinking.

“There was a lot of talking about things that just didn’t make sense, and he admitted to feeling like the phone was listening to him and the TV was looking at him, and very paranoid thoughts and feelings. Then he just goes into mania, which will give him an incredible personality.”

The “Twin Peaks” actress mentioned another incident that happened in November 2011, when Sly’s college roommates called the family to say they were worried after he left home without his phone or wallet.

The Twin Peaks actress and her son were photographed together last July for his 30th birthday

Amick shared a photo of her children Sly, 30, and Mina Tobias, 29, on Christmas Day

Sly’s behavior changed when he witnessed the death of a classmate when he was a freshman, when he began using drugs and alcohol, and his personality changed, his mother said

“Suddenly, the world just went out from under him,” Amick said. “We got together as a family and drove from Los Angeles to Irvine Street just to try and find him. It took a few hours, but we finally did.

“He was just walking down the street, very, very unwell.”

She said that after their daughter, Mina, told her she felt something was “very wrong” with Sly, the family took him to a medical facility for evaluation.

“I tried to explain to the EMS what was going on and they just looked at him like another kid on drugs,” Amick said. “But they took him in for the night and said, ‘He seems to have an addiction problem. You will have to deal with it as a family.’ After a few hours he was discharged and we took him home.”

Amick said the nonprofit she and her son are working on aims to help people who can’t afford treatment get the right guidance to navigate the mental health system.

The Riverdale and Twin Peaks actress was photographed at an event in New York City in 2019

After months of going in and out of several medical facilities and treatment facilities, Sly was diagnosed with bipolar 1 in a psychiatric hospital.

“Then they said, ‘It’s not an addiction problem, it’s a mental health problem,'” Amick said. “As scary as it was, it was actually a relief because now he had a name and some way to try to figure it out. what to do about it.’

Sly’s father Alexis added: “There were a few times it looked like he wasn’t going to make it and we were called to the hospital” in an alcohol poisoning case, “to say goodbye, but he always fought for his life and made it.”

Amick said her son was able to adjust to a therapy and medication plan in 2012 and was able to manage problems when they arose in the spring of 2021.

He has been sober for over a year and works in the field as a behavioral technician with the goal of becoming a case manager.

“I’m on the other side now,” Sly told People. “I used to be a patient and now I’m a caregiver. When I’m sober, I can stay away from any volatility.’

Amick said the nonprofit she and her son are working on aims to help people who can’t afford treatment get the right guidance to navigate the mental health system.

“As a foundation, we are starting our first scholarship program,” Amick said. “We are very proud to be able to support a treatment center that is finally operational after 10 years.”