From The Tyee: “A common misconception is that B.C. has decreased its reliance on mental health detentions over the years, which has led to the current crises in homelessness, mental health and addictions. But the evidence shows that detentions have, in fact, increased dramatically.
The province is detaining more people in psychiatric facilities than before. In 2005, there were about 12,000 involuntary admissions under B.C.’s Mental Health Act. In 2023 this number surged to nearly 30,000 involuntary admissions, a staggering increase of 150 per cent.
In addition to the high number of people placed in involuntary detention, B.C. has extremely broad laws allowing forced psychiatric treatment that do not exist in any other province.
An evidence-based approach clearly shows that the reliance on detention, force and coercion over the past two decades has not led to better outcomes. Instead, resources should be focused on voluntary mental health care, services and community support that people desperately need and often cannot access.”
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