BC Mental Health Rights

Unlike most of the country, B.C. does not provide involuntary detention patients with legal representation. This is an urgent human rights issue. We're glad to see it getting the attention it deserves.

#BC is poised to pass legislation that permits involuntary detention of youth who overdose. See Pivot’s joint letter with @CANdrugpolicy urging @adriandix and @DarcyJudy to stop Bill 22 now! Join us in our call before second reading on July 6, 2020 pivotlegal.org/stop_the_passa…

Today our government proposed changes to the Mental Health Act that would provide youth under the age of 19 who are admitted to ED with stabilization care, immediately following an overdose. This emergency measure will be vital in saving young lives. news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020M…

#bcpoli @BCMHRights

A couple of months ago we ran out of our Mental Health Act rights wallet cards—but we just got more in. We have to hang on to a few for training purposes but can send some out to community organizations and mental health teams. Get in touch if you need wallet cards!

To make sure you are equipped with up to date legal information on your rights, check out BCCLA's NEW factsheets on your rights in a pandemic. Practical information on emergency orders, enforcement powers, and tenant privacy. Share: bccla.org/our-work/covid… #COVID__19 #bcpoli

“Who’s left out? COVID-19 & psychiatric detainees”—from @HealthJusticeCA: healthjustice.ca/news/rzu86mdj4…

@tesssheldon @KarenSpector @SheilaWildeman CLAS’s Mental Health Law Program provides representation to people who've been detained under BC's Mental Health Act. We continue to operate & serve clients remotely. If you need representation at a Mental Health Review Board hearing call 604-685-3425 or toll-free 1-855-685-6222.

@tesssheldon @KarenSpector @SheilaWildeman CLAS has long advocated for reforms to BC’s Mental Health Act and Regulations to better protect patients’ rights. Read the recommendations set out in our report, Operating in Darkness, here: d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/clastest/pages…

@tesssheldon @KarenSpector @SheilaWildeman BC's Mental Health Act is meant to be used to keep people safe and prevent mental or physical deterioration. Continued detention in a facility in this situation may not achieve these goals.

@tesssheldon @KarenSpector @SheilaWildeman People with mental health disabilities are some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. Continued detention in facilities that cannot implement social distancing & other preventive measures puts these individuals at extreme risk. This is a serious human rights concern.

We applaud this article by lawyers and academics @TessSheldon @KarenSpector & @SheilaWildeman on the impacts of COVID-19 on people in psychiatric detention: ricochet.media/en/3038/viruse…

NEW POST: *Mental Health Act* resources for clinicians working with children and youth bcmentalhealthrights.ca/2020/03/18/men…

🎉FREE CPD ALERT🎉 Tues, Nov 19 we're hosting @pivotlegal's webinar "Know Your Rights" covering legal rights of folks relying on public space for advocates + service providers. Webinar is worth 1hr of CPD credits w/@LawSocietyofBC. REGISTER bit.ly/2NoriQH #BCLaw #BCLegal

Jan Derbyshire's show "Certified" (@certifiedjan) is playing at The Cultch until November 16. A creative, engaging way to learn more about the Mental Health Act. Tickets here: thecultch.com/events/certifi…

BC hasn't been one to follow other provinces' approaches to involuntary hospitalization, but we'll be watching this appeal with interest. edmontonjournal.com/news/local-new…

The #MentalHealth Review Board has committed to the Access to Justice Triple Aim. We look at their latest annual report to see how well they're meeting it and discuss what they could do next. bcmentalhealthrights.ca/2019/08/14/hig… #A2J @A2JBC

NEW BLOG POST: Highlights from the Mental Health Review Board's 2018–2019 annual report bcmentalhealthrights.ca/2019/08/14/hig…

In her @globeandmail piece Anna Mehler Paperny @amp6 discusses the dramatic increases in coercive and involuntary mental health care in Canada. theglobeandmail.com/opinion/articl…