Hopefully this will help with some of the questions and concerns from last time. IMO, being informed on the details will help people push for the changes they want to see. The linked article has additional links throughout the text that I've copied below, and those links were not captured when I created this post. Please see the CBC link for those, or let me know what I should add to this post.
But what is involuntary care? And how does it work?
Basically, it's care and treatment for people experiencing mental illness so severe that it impacts the safety of themselves or those around them, and they cannot — or will not — be treated voluntarily.
Who qualifies for involuntary care?
According to the province, anyone receiving involuntary treatment must meet a specific set of criteria.
They must have a mental disorder that requires treatment; their disorder impairs their ability to react appropriately to their environment or associate with others; they need care or supervision to prevent substantial mental or physical deterioration, or for the protection of themselves or others; they require treatment in a designated facility; and, the person can't be admitted voluntarily.
How does someone get admitted into involuntary care?
Sometimes, people are brought into the hospital by police if they believe the person is likely to hurt themselves or others.
The Mental Health Act states that the director of a designated involuntary care facility can admit and detain individuals for up to 48 hours for examination and treatment after receiving a medical certificate completed by a physician or nurse practitioner, also known as becoming certified under the act.
How long would they be there?
Individuals in involuntary care can be kept there for one month — or longer if their doctor thinks it's necessary.
Can you challenge certification under the Mental Health Act?
Yes. Such appeals can be made to the Mental Health Review Board.
What treatments are given in involuntary care?
While the Ministry of Health wasn't specific about treatments, it said patients are given individualized care, which can include medications and counselling, as well as making sure patients are getting enough sleep, eating nutritiously and getting physical exercise.
Do people have a choice as to what treatments they receive?
Health Minister Josie Osborne said in an interview with CBC News that individuals in involuntary care do not get that choice. Instead, those choices are made by a team of experts.
The ministry said in an email to CBC News that doctors will include patients when possible, but that involuntary patients may have to take certain medications or receive other types of treatment even if they don't want to.
Can people choose to leave if they've been admitted into involuntary care?
No. Once admitted into involuntary care and certified under the Mental Health Act, a patient is not permitted to leave.
Who cares for people in involuntary care?
Nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians — including psychiatrists — mental health workers and therapists, facility administrators and leaders, and Indigenous and vocational support workers all contribute to caring for involuntary patients.
Who is in charge of overseeing it?
Health authorities oversee facilities that provide involuntary treatment, while individual facility directors are in charge of the facilities.
How is it decided when someone should be released?
When the person no longer meets the criteria under the Mental Health Act, as laid out above, they are discharged from involuntary care.
Is care ongoing once patients have been released?
According to the ministry, ongoing care is explained in a discharge plan and may be provided by family and health-care providers.
What are the issues or concerns with involuntary care?
Advocates have long raised concerns about the efficacy and humanity of involuntary care.
The Canadian Mental Health Association B.C. worries about a reliance on involuntary treatment, when voluntary services "have not kept up with demand."
It has also said there is a lack of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of involuntary treatment for people who have substance-use disorders.
In 2019, a B.C. Ombudsperson report found several inconsistencies with how some facilities document treatments or how they determine a person meets the criteria to be certified.
Who does it benefit?
The province says that involuntary care is designed to protect individuals from harming themselves and others.
As B.C. Ombudsperson Jay Chalke put it in 2019, it can be a "life-saving power" when used properly.
