VICTORIA, B.C. – The BC Greens say the BC NDP’s move to amend Section 31 of the Mental Health Act is an opportunistic effort to protect its defence of involuntary treatment.
“For nearly a decade, the BC Greens have been calling for comprehensive reform of the entire Mental Health Act. Instead of confronting the fundamental problem, voluntary care is being overshadowed. Many people requiring involuntary treatment were once less sick, but were unable to access voluntary care when they needed it,” said Jeremy Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver–Sea to Sky.
“Today’s minor amendments barely scratch the surface of the work necessary to update this archaic law, and might actually take us backwards. The rushed process of this change is incomprehensible given this court case has been underway since 2016. This government could have brought these amendments forward at any point.”
“While the government is right to acknowledge that Section 31 is deeply problematic, simply relocating the language within the Act does not address the core issue: coercive health measures that remain out of step with an evidence-based understanding of mental health and illness,” added Valeriote.
“The government has referred to these powers as ‘involuntary care,’ but really, this is forced treatment at a huge financial cost, with little evidence that it is effective in reducing rehospitalization or repeat offences.
“Of course we all want safe communities. But we don’t get there without investments guided by peer-reviewed science and evidence,” said Valeriote. “Expanding funding for voluntary care, for affordable housing, accessible health and mental health care, and programs proven to deliver successful outcomes are what will move us forward as a province.”
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Media contact
Ryan Hook
Press Secretary
BC Green Caucus
+1 250-882-6187 | ryan.hook@leg.bc.ca