Kevin Falcon (image credit - Global)

By Michael Reeve

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

‘We have really failed those who suffer from severe mental health issues’; Falcon proposes new model for B.C.

Nov 22, 2022 | 4:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — Both the governing B.C. NDP and the opposition B.C. Liberals have been promoting their plans to tackle issues relating to mental health challenges and addiction. New premier David Eby announced his plan to clean up Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside over the weekend, while Kevin Falcon reiterated his stance to establish new mental health institutions in the province.

“I feel very strongly about this — we have really failed those who suffer from severe mental health issues in this province,” said Falcon.

Falcon wants to see British Columbia change the way it tackles mental health issues. He has proposed re-establishing a modernized mental health institutions.

“We have a responsibility to take those folks who can’t look after themselves off the streets and put them into proper 24/7 care. Think a modernized version of Tranquille or Essondale or Riverview that used to exist in the province. Until we start doing that we are not going to start seeing improvements in our streets,” stated Falcon.

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The sticking point for many on the proposal is the idea of forcing people into care. Falcon believes it is the right thing to do and a necessary step to protect British Columbians.

“When you have got folks who aren’t capable of making decisions in their own best interest that is where actually you do need government to step up. And I get that there is some controversy about that, but my god, at the end of the day my biggest important responsibility is protecting defenseless individuals who can’t make decisions in their own best interests,” said Falcon.

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson said her party is focusing on voluntary complex care.

“We are building complex care housing, we have funding for 500 units across the province. It is voluntary but it is for the kinds of people that often get evicted from regular housing and are extremely active and honestly disruptive on the streets sometimes,” said Malcolmson.

Bob Hughes, the CEO of ASK Wellness, believes it time for substantive change in the model of care for those suffering from mental health challenges and was pleased to see Falcon make such a bold statement.

“About mandated treatment, institutionalizing certain folks in a modern way that isn’t just simply rounding up people who you don’t like to see on your streets. But recognizing that some parts of our population are so unwell that no matter the amount of services we offer, they may not participate in that,” said Hughes.

While on board with the overall idea, Hughes was quick to note that stakeholders must be consulted with first.

“Obviously, embarking on it in a way that brings forward some of the stakeholders such as Indigenous communities. Let’s acknowledge that there was some tremendous abuse that took place in places like Tranquille and Woodlands and across the country. But not all bad things came of this,” said Hughes.

Falcon stated that his party would work on treatment and recovery not just de-criminalization, which he feels the NDP is solely focused on.

“The B.C. approach is what San Francisco and Portland and Seattle have followed and we saw where it got those cities and has taken many of our communities in this province. We are going to try a different model. In Alberta they have seen double digit declines in opioid overdoses, they have created an addictions and treatment and recovery program that is free and available wildly across the province. That is the direction we need to go,” said Falcon.