Action on mental health reform long overdue, say officials

Leonard Krog speaks to CTV News on Oct. 22, 2018.

A review of and changes to the Mental Health Act, ordered Wednesday by B.C. Premier David Eby, are being met with relief and frustration that they weren’t put in place sooner.

“It’s taken the government some time to react, the incredible nightmare of the tragedy in Vancouver has certainly set the publics mind aflame,” said Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog on Thursday.

The horror of the Lapu-Lapu festival tragedy forced the review and modernization of the Mental Health Act. It is something that has been recommended for years, including formally by an all-party government committee three years ago.

The Greens’ Adam Olsen was part of that committee.

“This government’s lack of action has actually made vulnerable people more vulnerable now, and more stigmatization has actually increased due to the lack of action,” said Olsen Thursday.

Premier Eby says the delay was due to a pending court challenge against the constitutionality of involuntary care, a court case with origins from nearly a decade ago.

“It feels like a push to me, a way to distract us from what the actual issue is,” said Olsen.

Health Minister Joise Osborne says a timeline for when the review will begin, or its scope, isn’t yet known.

“Well, I think really now the most important thing is that we are going to undertake this review,” said Osborne.

The City of Nanaimo has battled homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges. Krog has pushed repeatedly for the expansion of involuntary care, and for more funding on mental health.

He’s pushing for momentum of this moment, more supportive housing funding and involuntary treatment beds in his town.

“We are prepared to take the political opposition that may well flow from that,” said Krog.

In turn, Eby asked the Prime Minister in a letter for more funding for mental health supports.

Eby said he requested a partner at the federal level “to assist us in opening the beds that we are aggressively moving to open.”