Vancouver – The B.C. government is taking new steps to strengthen care for young people facing severe mental-health and substance-use challenges by releasing updated guidance on how involuntary care can be provided for those under 19 who are unable or unwilling to seek help on their own.
The new guidance, developed to support physicians and psychiatrists across all health authorities, clarifies when youth can be admitted under the Mental Health Act at the request of a parent or guardian, ensuring they can access life-saving treatment when urgently needed.
Premier David Eby said too many families have experienced tragedy because they were unable to keep their children in care long enough to receive essential treatment.
“I have met parents whose children have died because they were unable to hold them in care and get them the treatment they need, including medication that prevents brain injury and overdose,” Eby said. “We have to do better. This new guidance will help protect some of our most vulnerable from permanent brain injury or death, while opening the door to rebuilding their lives.”
The guidance was prepared by Dr. Daniel Vigo, B.C.’s chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders. It outlines how the Mental Health Act can be applied in cases involving young people with severe and overlapping disorders, emphasizing the importance of using the least restrictive intervention possible.
“Children and youth with severe mental disorders, including substance-use disorders, sometimes need urgent and decisive intervention,” said Vigo. “This guidance shows how physicians can help families use the Mental Health Act therapeutically. When absolutely necessary, the act is a fundamental tool to prevent brain injury and save lives.”
The new direction expands on earlier guidance issued this year concerning adults and provides specific clarity for youth under 19.
Across the province, more than 2,000 mental-health beds are available for involuntary care, with more being added. This year, new beds opened at the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre and Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge. Additional facilities capable of providing both voluntary and involuntary care are under development in Surrey and Prince George, as part of the Province’s effort to strengthen mental-health support and protect young people at risk.
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