‘A plan to make a plan’: Experts speak out on B.C.’s involuntary care proposal

published on October 2, 2024 by Maddi Dellplain in Healthy Debate

In the midst of British Columbia’s provincial election, Premier David Eby has been accused of flip-flopping on involuntary care.

During a September press event, Eby announced that the province would expand involuntary care for people with concurrent mental illness, acquired brain injuries and addiction. The province stated that it will open more than 400 hospital based-mental health beds and two new secure care facilities: A correctional facility at Surrey Pretrial Services Centre and a secure housing and care facility at the Alouette Correctional Centre in Maple Ridge.

Eby also affirmed the province’s intention to open more regional facilities at prisons under provincial jurisdiction in the future. The province is currently taking steps to “clarify the authority of doctors under the existing Mental Health Act,” said Eby. He added that if the New Democratic Party (NDP) wins this election, it will introduce changes that will provide a clearer path to get patients, including youth, admitted when they “can’t ask for care themselves.”…

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