Terrace is to be a northwest hub for the involuntary treatment of people suffering from long-term mental health and addictions problems, indicates information provided by the provincial mental health and addictions ministry.
The ministry is doing so by classifying 10 of the 20 psychiatric unit beds at the new Terrace hospital for involuntary treatment and by doing the same for five of the 25 beds in the new Seven Sisters mental health residence that opened earlier this year.
In itself, the 20 beds intended for the new hospital's psychiatric unit is doubling the current 10-bed psychiatric unit at the existing Mills Memorial Hospital. The five beds at the new Seven Sisters residence increased the bed count to 25 compared to 20 at the old Seven Sisters building, which has since been demolished.
Based on provided information the 15 beds are part of a province-wide additional 140 treatment beds first announced in mid-September along with updating 280 existing beds.
Provided information from the mental health and addictions ministry also says the 10 beds in the new psychiatric ward and the five in the new Seven Sisters can either be used for involuntary or voluntary treatment depending upon specific situations.
"They would have the right number of staff," a ministry statement indicated of the ability to provide either voluntary or involuntary treatment.
The decision to boost involuntary care provisions across the province was first announced Sept. 15, just over a week before the writ was dropped to officially begin the provincial election campaign period leading to final voting on Oct. 19.
In all, northern B.C. is to get 54 of the 140 new beds with three at the Dawson Creek and District Hospital and 36 at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George in addition to the 15 beds in Terrace.
Open drug use, addictions and people with mental health challenges in the community have become key public safety issues over the past several years and have now emerged as election issues.
The Sept. 15 announcement, made by NDP leader David Eby in his capacity as premier, also indicated provincial legislation would be changed to provide greater clarity when people could be involuntarily committed for treatment.
These would not be the first beds in Terrace to provide detailed and specific care to individuals suffering from mental health, physical health and addictions issues.
Beginning more than a year ago, Northern Health opened up 10 beds for what is termed complex care. Some are at the Sonder House complex adjacent to the Northern Health main building.
Services offered for those in complex care depend upon an individual’s needs, but include counselling, overdose prevention services, medication management, peer supports, skills training, and cooking and meal preparation.
