The province opened its second dedicated involuntary care facility on Tuesday (June 3) in Maple Ridge inside the gates of the Alouette Correctional Centre for Women.
"It's for people living with complex mental health disorders who need long-term therapeutic care in a supportive home-like environment," Health Minister Josie Osborne said at the opening of the homes at the Alouette Homes.
It is situated within the prison grounds, although it is not part of the prison itself.
The addition of these 18 beds fulfills the first step of an NDP re-election promise to provide some form of involuntary care for people suffering from concurrent mental health and addiction disorders. Many of these people also have brain injuries from multiple overdoses.
Premier David Eby is relying on Dr. Daniel Vigo, a psychiatrist and public health specialist, to lead the way and provide advice on expanding the use of involuntary care in B.C.
"These homes are the first of their kind," Vigo said. "Before Alouette, there was no housing alternative for them due to the extreme complexity of the mental and substance use disorders."
The first facility to open was at the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre, catering to up to 10 people already in the custody of law enforcement.
The newest facility is not for people already in the correctional system. It will provide a home-like setting, albeit behind locked doors and within the gates of the correctional facility.
Those receiving care will need to have been certified under the Mental Health Act, though generally they will be people who have been under psychiatric care in the hospital system for some time, but need longer-term care.
Osborne said there are approximately 2,000 people in B.C. who receive this type of hospital-based care.
“A facility like this provides the ability for somebody to potentially live the rest of their lives in a very, very dignified setting,” she said.
Vigo said that part of his mandate is to ensure the Mental Health Act is being applied properly. He added that the province has a “robust system of safeguards” to ensure people receiving care have their rights protected. This includes a review board and independent advisors.
B.C. is also undertaking a review of the Mental Health Act to modernize it, something which was announced shortly after the Lapu Lapu SUV attack that left 11 people dead. The accused in that was ordered to have a psychiatric assessment, and is awaiting a two-day fitness hearing to determine if he can stand trial.
This review was something that Premier David Eby said he was holding off on while a court challenge of the act was underway, but the attack forced his hand.
The B.C. Greens have called for better oversight of mental health care in B.C. with the creation of a mental health commissioner similar to the human rights commissioner and representative for children and youth.
The B.C. Conservatives have said these facilities are not enough, calling for compassionate intervention legislation that provides involuntary care for people with addiction challenges who do not meet the criteria for care under the Mental Health Act.
Both parties have called for more voluntary care for people with concurrent mental health, addiction and brain injury disorders.
