The British Columbia government has created 18 new beds dedicated to long -term involuntary care at a Vancouver Metro Metro Center.
The new beds in Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge, BC, are designed for people who need involuntary care under the mental health law outside the criminal justice system, said health minister Josie Osborne a press conference.
“I want to be clear that, although Alouette Homes is located next to the Alouette Correctional Center, it is not the same as the involuntary care beds that opened last month at the Surrey Services Center,” Osborne said.
“Those were beds specifically designed for people in custody, but Alouette Homes is different. It is for people who live with complex mental health disorders who need long -term therapeutic care in a home support environment.”
BC Minister of Health, Josie Osborne, says that the new involuntary “at home” space in Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge is designed for certified persons for long -term involuntary care under the BC Mental Health Law. Jonny Morris, CEO of the BC Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association, tells BC Today, presenter of Michelle Eliot, the province must be precise about who qualifies for this type of attention, whether people who are taken from the streets or those who are already in the system but need a more adequate alternative.
Osborne said that only those certificates for long -term involuntary care are eligible to be placed in the new beds.
Dr. Daniel Vigo, the main BC scientific advisor for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders, said the attention offered by Alouette Homes will be the first of its kind in the province.
Vigo said the beds provide an alternative to the current configuration, where patients are “trapped in the hospital units of high security indeterminately” due to the lack of options.
When asked how long a patient can remain in long -term involuntary care, Vigo said the period of time is “indeterminate.”
“It takes us all the time that takes us to help that person,” he said.
“This is an approved house, which means that it is a housing installation that will provide this service openly.”
The first people to use the new beds will move as soon as next week, said Osborne.
The measure occurs after the province announced the opening of an involuntary care center for 10 units for people with addictions and mental health problems at the Surrey Purpose Center in April.
Surrey’s installation is intended to treat people in custody who have a combination of mental health challenges, brain injuries and addiction concerns.
BC Prime Minister David Eby said at that time that the unit was destined to prevent people from accelerating continuously through the justice system without improving.
The issue of involuntary care for those who suffer from drugs, mental illnesses and brain injuries have been discussed in the opponent due to their links with both the toxic drug crisis in progress and with public safety concerns.
In addition to BC, Ontario is also looking for an expanded involuntary treatment, while Alberta has introduced legislation that would allow family members, health and police workers to request someone from addiction treatment.
On Wednesday, Federal Minister of Health, Marjorie Michel, said there is no evidence that forcing people to treatment is effective.
But Michel did not evaluate whether the provinces should seek such policies, saying that each Canadian has the right to receive treatment for addiction.
Osborne said that the BC government was reviewing the Mental Health Law to identify possible service gaps and possible solutions.
Bonnie Wilson, Vice President of Vancouver Coastal Health, said, references would be considered for patients outside the region to use the new beds.
While Wilson could not share specific details about patients who would be eligible for long -term involuntary care, provided a “compound” of characteristics that would probably qualify.
“Think of a young person who has been fighting with mental health for several years,” Wilson said.
During his final exams, he began listening to voices in his head encouraging him to end his life. After a suicide attempt, he had his first stay extended in the hospital at the age of 19.
“Between then and now, many parts of our medical care system and also, like many people with mental illnesses, began to be measured with street drugs,” he said.
Wilson said the new beds would provide such a patient “the opportunity to be in a more natural environment” after years that passed and leave the hospital.
