'Please pass this bill': Families voice support for legislative amendments intended to prevent suicide
Two families grieving loved ones who died by suicide are joining the BC Liberals to call on the province to make changes to the Mental Health Act, so those at risk of harming themselves can receive better care.
MLA Elenore Sturko put forward a private member's bill Wednesday that seeks amendments to the act regarding patients brought to hospital who are thought to be a risk to themselves or others.
The goal is to have health-care workers call a family member or the person who brought the patient in to get a better understanding of the patient's mental health.
Sturko, a former RCMP officer, said she responded to a young man's suicide and found out he had been in hospital before his death. His name was Todd Marr.
"I have to say there for a long time, particularly after the death of Todd, I felt a degree of anger at the doctors," Sturko told reporters. "Like, why didn't they keep him? Doctors and nurse practitioners are doing what they can with the tools they have."
Pictures of both Marr and Const. Nicole Chan - who also died by suicide after being released from hospital - hang in the MLA's office at the legislature.
Chan's sister Jenn, who works for CTV News, said better communication about her sister's mental health struggles may have made a difference. That was also one of the recommendations from a Coroner's Inquest into the officer's death.
"She might have been kept a little bit longer and her life might have been saved," Chan said.
Green MLA Adam Olson was at the news conference announcing the proposed amendments. He said within minutes of discussing the issue with his staff, several people had come forward with similar experiences.
"This is something that we should be discussing and certainly, there are way too many stories such as this," added Olson.
Olson said the bill was worth a debate. Still, legislation brought forward by opposition rarely passes – and it's up the province to decide whether it moves forward.
Asked about the idea at an unrelated news conference, Premier David Eby didn't dismiss it.
"If there's any opportunity for us to improve the information that's available to physicians or nurses when we're making that incredibly difficult decision about whether or not to hospitalize someone who's in crisis, we're willing to look at that," Eby said
The premier said more consultation may be needed to make sure there are no unintended consequences. That's exactly what the families say they're living with.
Fighting through tears, Todd's mom Lorraine Marr said she wished someone had asked her about her son's life. She pleaded, "Please pass this bill."
If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources that are available:
- Canada Suicide Prevention Helpline (1-833-456-4566)
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (1 800 463-2338)
- Crisis Services Canada (1-833-456-4566 or text 45645)
- Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868)
If you need immediate assistance, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
When grief and AI collide: These people are communicating with the dead
AI tools can offer recommendations, answer questions and 'talk' with users. But some users are using them to recreate the likeness of the dead.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
WestJet, mechanics union agree to tentative deal to avoid strike
A potential strike between WestJet and its mechanics union appears to have been avoided.
Prosecutors move deeper into Trump's orbit as testimony in hush money trial enters a third week
Prosecutors in Donald Trump's hush money trial are moving deeper into his orbit following an inside-the-room account about the former president's reaction to a politically damaging recording that surfaced in the final weeks of the 2016 campaign.
Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials
Russia plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine and Moscow warned that tensions with the West are deepening.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.