Who gets admitted to involuntary care spaces? Mental health advocate calls for transparency
B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne says the new 'home-like' involuntary care space at Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge is designed for individuals who are certified for long-term involuntary care under B.C.'s Mental Health Act. Jonny Morris, the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association's B.C. division, tells BC Today host Michelle Eliot the province needs to be precise about who qualifies for this kind of care — whether it's people who are taken off the streets or those already in the system but need a more suitable alternative.
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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Who gets admitted to involuntary care spaces? Mental health advocate calls for transparency
B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne says the new 'home-like' involuntary care space at Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge is designed for individuals who are certified for long-term involuntary care under B.C.'s Mental Health Act. Jonny Morris, the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association's B.C. division, tells BC Today host Michelle Eliot the province needs to be precise about who qualifies for this kind of care — whether it's people who are taken off the streets or those already in the system but need a more suitable alternative.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
1 month later, Lapu-Lapu Day witness, victim reflect on their experiences
Rosadene Alcala Apeles was thinking of packing their jewelry booth at the end of the Lapu-Lapu Day festival just over a month ago when they spotted an SUV driving very quickly towards them. Apeles says their table was located close to the unprotected barrier that closed off 43rd Avenue for food trucks and vendors at the festival. "I saw that black SUV — it was coming in pretty hot, and I felt like, this is a school zone. Why is it going so fast?" they told CBC's On the Coast host Gloria Macarenko. "And then the car just didn't stop." Apeles heard tires screeching. And then the car raced out of view. They soon realized they had just witnessed the first injury and the first casualty that took place that evening. It's been just over a month since the Lapu-Lapu Day festival tragedy occurred on April 26. Eleven people were killed, and dozens more were injured. The victims include a mother visiting her sons from the Philippines, a family that had come to Canada to escape violence in Colombia, another family that left behind a 16-year-old son who had stayed home that day, and a high school teacher. Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, has since been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder in connection with the crash. Witnesses and those who were injured at the event say they are still recovering — mentally and physically — from what they saw and experienced. "I think that fundamentally I am a different person than I was at the start of that day," Apeles said. "I have come to terms that this event is going to be part of who I am, whether that be for the better or the worse." Some witnesses and victims also say the past month has been a time to reflect: about their community, their families and the state of mental health care in B.C. Apeles, who works as a mental health support worker and harm reduction specialist, says the tragedy has underscored the need for more support for those suffering from mental illness. "If we want a healthy society where these tragedies don't happen, we need to acknowledge that we can't sweep these tragedies under the rug," they said. "The people who enabled this to happen have to apologize. They have to make commitments to do better." Christi-Ann Watkins, 43, performed and helped produce the show at the festival. Her 11-year-old son Knox had performed as well. They had just wrapped up at the main stage and decided to grab a bite to eat at one of the food vendors. She was feeling happy about how well everything had turned out. "The vibe was great," Watkins told BC Today host Michelle Eliot. "Although Lapu-Lapu was tragic, it was still a beautiful day for so many people." Watkins says she was standing near the vendors, holding her son's hand, when out of nowhere she was hit from behind. "I didn't see this car, didn't hear this car, nothing," she said. "And I remember mentally processing what was happening to me that just all of a sudden I just got hit and my brain understood it as, 'This was a car that hit you.'" Watkins fell to the ground. Her whole body was in pain, and it hurt to breathe. She says she just told herself to keep her eyes open and keep breathing. Someone quickly put pressure on her head because she was bleeding. An arm's length away, people were trying to resuscitate a girl with no pulse. She panicked and reached out, worried it was her son. Just then, a friend came up and told her not to worry. She had Knox, and he was safe. Watkins was put in an ambulance and sent to Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster. She says she maintained consciousness through it all. Her injuries included a laceration due to blunt force trauma to her head, fractured vertebrae in her neck, fractured ribs, pelvis and knee. She also had a punctured lung, laceration to her spleen and kidney, and road rash from her ankles all the way up to her head. "I'm very aware of the fact that I'm still here and things could be a lot worse," she said. Watkins was in hospital for 10 days. She expected to be there for months. While she was there, she accepted a steady stream of visitors, which she credits for her recovery. Hopped up on painkillers, she recounted what happened hundreds of times. "I don't find it daunting," she said. "I just need people to know what happened because I'm here to tell it." Back at home, Watkins still very much struggles with the pain from her injuries. She says it doesn't take much to leave her exhausted. Her husband is on leave from his job to care for her. Despite what happened to her, Watkins says she has chosen not to let anger overcome her. Instead, she is focusing on having a second chance with her family and the present. And also, the outpouring of love and support from her community. A month later, she says, fundraisers are still happening. The support is still there. But Watkins isn't leaving negative emotions out entirely. Like Apeles, she is critical of B.C.'s mental health system. "He needs help, too," she said of the suspect, Kai-Ji Adam Lo.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Yahoo
Vigil for 'four beautiful souls' killed in fire
About 150 residents gathered for a prayer service in Brent, north London on Tuesday evening to remember a mother and three of her children who died in a house fire. Nusrat Usman, 43, her daughter Maryam Mikaiel, 15 and sons Musa Usman, eight, and Raees Usman, four, died when their home in Stonebridge went up in flames on Saturday morning. A 13-year-old girl, who has not been named, remains in hospital in a critical condition, while a woman in her 70s has been discharged. Local councillor Muhammed Butt told BBC London the tragedy had united the community. The vigil was held in the middle of the housing estate where the four lost their lives. Mr Butt, who is leader of Brent Council, told BBC London: "We are mourning the loss of four beautiful souls. "I live just around the corner, just across the road, and the community is so united. "Everyone knows one another so to have this tragedy you can see, you can feel the loss that people are feeling. "They care about one another, they look after one another and they care about everyone." Members of the community spoke about the loss of the family and how the father Ozzy was still coming to terms the tragedy. Eight fire engines and about 70 firefighters from stations across Wembley, Park Royal and Willesden were sent to tackle the blaze. A teddy bear and flowers were seen laid near the properties over the weekend. The London Fire Brigade said a woman and child were initially rescued from the second floor of one of the affected properties and received emergency care but were declared dead at the scene. Two more children were found inside the property and also declared dead, it added. One neighbour, who said the family had moved to the UK from Pakistan more than 20 years ago, told the BBC that after hearing smashing and screaming, she had gone out to find the building on fire. The Metropolitan Police said a man, 41, had been arrested on suspicion of murder outside the property. He has since been bailed and detained under the Mental Health Act. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Mother and three children who died in Brent fire named Murder arrest as mum and three children die in fire Metropolitan Police
