By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
If Ontario opts to create a pilot program to force the mentally ill and addicted to get help, Chatham-Kent could be on board.
That’s the hope of North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville, who was expected to introduce a notice of motion at Monday’s council meeting to see if the municipality can take part if such a program comes to fruition.
“What’s going on right now isn’t working,” said Jubenville, who, along with councillors Michael Bondy and Ryan Doyle, has been exploring local addiction services. “For those who suffer from addiction and mental health, there is no way out of it other than treatment.
Jubenville pointed out that society doesn’t “cast out” people who suffer from dementia or who have a brain injury.
“We look after them. It’s worth it if you can save a life.”
Late last month, Windsor city council directed staff to write a letter to the province asking if Windsor can be considered for a mandatory treatment program. This follows on the heels of the City of Brampton requesting the province allow for involuntary treatment.
As well, in October, Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) Group passed a comprehensive motion calling on the province to probe solutions to Ontario’s homelessness crisis and to investigate the possibility of establishing mandatory treatment for the addicted and mentally ill.
Mayor Darrin Canniff, who is part of the OBCM, said he agrees with involuntary treatment for extreme cases, but is unsure if Ontario has the faculties to handle it.
Canniff compared the plight of the severely mentally ill and addicted to people suffering with dementia and Alzheimer’s who are housed against their will in specialized facilities.
“We don’t ask them if we can do this,” the mayor said. “We put them in… they are going to hurt themselves or harm themselves or others. It’s the same thing here. They’re in a state of mind where they don’t have control of their faculties.
“So, it behooves us as a society to say, you need help,” he added. “We want to help and we’ll help you. So, to me it makes sense. Is that for everyone? No. But there’s certainly some people that would make sense for. I’m not an expert but I agree with the concept of looking at it.”
Involuntary treatment for mental health and addicted people has become a hot topic in Canada as municipalities grapple with the fallout of homeless encampments and social disorder resulting from drug and alcohol addiction.
British Columbia is already allowing mentally ill and addicted people to be detained in psychiatric facilities, and Alberta and Manitoba are all looking at implementing similar measures.
Last month, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown called on the province to consider launching a pilot project that would allow first responders to place people with mental health disorders, addictions issues and brain injuries into treatment facilities against their will, if found to be necessary by a doctor.
However, this type of care raises legal questions.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, a registered charity that advocates for people’s civil liberties and human rights, has said this strategy is “unconstitutional” and “unlawful,” according to previously published reports.
