Hospitals across the region are seeing a significant increase in the number of youth in need of psychiatric services, says Fraser Health Authority CEO Michael Marchbank.
It’s an area of health care that needs to be examined, said Marchbank, speaking at the Fraser Health board meeting held in Langley on Wednesday.
Marchbank was responding to the comments of a mother who expressed her frustration with the lack of psychiatric services available — services her daughter desperately needs but isn’t getting.
The board meeting, held at Cascades Casino and conference centre, was open to the public and included a question period.
Abbotsford mom Jackie Gettings asked why teens with psychiatric problems, including her daughter, are not being helped and are instead being released even though they are often a risk to themselves.
The B.C. Coroner Service is planning an inquest into the suicides of three young people who took their lives after being released from the mental health unit at Abbotsford Hospital.
The system is failing kids across the region, said Gettings.
“The second time my daughter was admitted, I begged your doctors to keep my daughter. even for three days, to stabilize her,” said Gettings.
“I told the doctors, it is on them for what happens to my daughter if they release her, and they still did. Within one week she was missing.
“I want some accountability. Your criteria to keep my daughter needs to change,” she said.
Last week, Abbotsford Police put out an alert after Gettings’ daughter went missing while she was under serious mental distress. She was located in Surrey.
Gettings’ daughter had been admitted to Abbotsford Regional Hospital twice within a three-week period following two suicide attempts. Despite her mother’s pleas to commit her under the Mental Health Act, doctors released the teen.
Parents across B.C. have been calling on health authorities to do more for youth struggling with suicidal thoughts and mental health issues, including psychotic episodes.
“It’s great there are seven beds in Surrey, but what about Abbotsford, what about Langley and all the other communities?” she asked.
Gettings said no one followed up with her after her daughter’s second suicide attempt.
It’s very rare for anyone to be committed under the Mental Health Act, said one doctor, speaking from the audience on Wednesday.
He said there are very strict criteria when it comes to committing someone against their will.
“It requires two physicians to certify someone against their will. With teens, we frequently discharge them and try to connect them to programs like Youth In Crisis.”
However Gettings noted such programs are voluntary, meaning her daughter cannot be forced to take part.
“This is an area we need to look into. No one is disputing this is an issue,” Marchbank responded.