Involuntary care. It’s a legal process that has existed for a long time, but has gotten more attention in British Columbia as the province has looked to expand treatment for those suffering from mental illness and addiction.
Involuntary care was put in the spotlight last fall, during the provincial election campaign, when Premier David Eby announced plans to expand that type of care for people with addiction. The B.C. Conservative Party also included involuntary care legislation in its platform.
In March, the province’s recently-appointed chief scientific adviser for psychiatry shared guidance for clinicians who may be making decisions about involuntary care for adults in B.C. with substance-use disorder.
In early June, the province announced 18 new long-term involuntary care beds in a Maple Ridge, B.C., mental health facility.
B.C. Premier David Eby announces two new involuntary care sites
Officials said the beds and treatment available at the facility will be the first of their kind in B.C., offering an alternative to the current situation where patients are “stuck in high-security hospital units indeterminately” due to a lack of options.
And just last week, Eby announced new involuntary care facilities for Surrey and Prince George, adding 100 more beds as a way to enhance public safety.
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?
