Latest news with #DanielVigo
Global News
4 days ago
- Health
- Global News
BC Conservatives question $1M contract for B.C. drug and mental illness adviser
The BC Conservative opposition is raising concerns about the contract the NDP government has awarded to its top adviser on mental health and the drug crisis. It has been one year since the B.C. government appointed Dr. Daniel Vigo as its chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders. Vigo has been responsible for developing solutions for people suffering from mental health, addictions and brain injuries due to toxic drugs. According to his contract, Vigo is eligible to receive $250,000 each quarter he works, up to $1 million for the year. In addition, he is eligible to receive 12 per cent of his salary as administrative fees or expenses. 2:07 B.C. government opens more involuntary care beds 'It was very clear during the election that involuntary care was one of the pieces that was needed in this system. I think the government was already aware of that, and I think that because they knew they were facing some pushback from some of their more ideological supporters, they decided to spend a million dollars hiring a doctor as a consultant to tell us what we already knew so that they could fall back on, 'Well, this is the science behind it,'' said Claire Rattée, BC Conservative MLA for Skeena. Story continues below advertisement 'At the end of the day, it's a million dollars that could have been spent on treatment.' Rattée added she was concerned about a 'lack of deliverables' in the contract. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy She said that according to the document, Vigo should have already submitted three quarterly reports, none of which have been made public. 'We're talking about a government that has spent well over $1 billion on addictions and the overdose emergency that we have here, but where are the measurable outcomes? What are the outcomes of any of the things that they have done?' added BC Conservative public safety critic Elenore Sturko. 'We have seen some announcements, we've seen some piecemeal work, even the stuff that's been announced by Dr. Vigo over the last couple of months here — It looks like something is happening, but what's the outcome and where have we gone and what should British Columbians expect from this huge expenditure?' B.C.'s health minister says the BC Conservatives aren't telling the whole story. The $1 million is earmarked for Vigo to build out a team of four people and to cover the cost of data collection and legal advice, Health Minister Josie Osborne told Global News. 1:52 New involuntary care beds are opening in Maple Ridge She said Vigo was retained because the toxic drug crisis and the intersection of addicitons medicine and psychiatry are evolving quickly, and the province wants to be on the cutting edge. Story continues below advertisement 'This is a fresh, innovative look using the professional experience that they have to help us identify the people who need help the most to help us identify the solutions,' Osborne said. 'It is a very challenging situation to see people that are suffering, to see and know that people need treatment and care and that we need the very best clinical expertise, the very medical advice that we can and the appropriate settings and care and therapies for these people — we don't have experts in that inside the ministry.' In his year on the job, Vigo has provided significant advice to the province, including a determination that the B.C. Mental Health Act does not need to be amended to allow for involuntary treatment. He led the development of new guidance to B.C. doctors, laying out the scenarios under which someone can be treated involuntarily under the Mental Health Act, all of them involving mental impairment. 1:54 Success of forced addictions treatment lacks evidence, minister says And he has been involved in the rollout of B.C.'s first two involuntary treatment facilities, one in the South Fraser Pretrial Centre and one in the Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge for people who aren't in contact with the justice system. Story continues below advertisement He has also been made available to media to answer questions about the province's involuntary treatment policy. Rattée said the progress for the price tag simply isn't good value. 'So far, they've only moved on. You know, 18 beds at Alouette, I believe it is, and 10 at Surrey pre-trial, and nothing to do with voluntary treatment services,' she said. 'This is a drop in the bucket when it comes to actually addressing the issue that we are facing right now.' Last month, the province terminated the contract of another adviser halfway through the planned six-month term. Michael Bryant had been hired on a $150,000 contract to consult on the province's policies and service delivery in the Downtown Eastside.
Vancouver Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. officially opens involuntary treatment beds on grounds of Alouette correctional facility
The B.C. NDP on Tuesday unveiled new beds that will allow authorities to force people with severe mental health and addictions to undergo treatment with the opening of a new facility at the Alouette Correctional Centre in Maple Ridge. Containing 18 beds across two buildings on the site of the women's jail, the facility will provide specialized care for individuals, both men and women, struggling with extreme mental-health challenges as well as severe brain injury from repeated drug overdoses. 'These two homes are the first of their kind in British Columbia, designed for individuals with incredibly complex mental-health disorders, who have been certified for long-term involuntary care under the Mental Health Act,' B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne told reporters. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'In many cases, residents may also be living with concurrent disorders such as substance-use brain injuries, which can affect behaviour and safety.' The announcement follows April's opening of 10 beds at the Surrey Pretrial Centre for people held by the jail while awaiting trial. Unlike that location, the beds at Alouette Correctional will not be for individuals in custody but rather those being held at secure health-care facilities under the Mental Health Act by Vancouver Coastal Health. Postmedia News asked for the number of people who have already been admitted to the facility at Surrey Pretrial but didn't hear back before deadline. Dr. Daniel Vigo, B.C.'s chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders, said the goal is to allow for specialized treatment to be provided in a secure setting while also freeing up hospital beds for other patients. 'We are currently working on some specific roadblocks with health authorities, with Health Canada, working closely with addiction doctors to desegregate mental health and substance-use care across the system so that people with severe mental illness are never excluded due to their complexity,' said Vigo. Claire Rattée, B.C. Conservative mental health and addictions critic, said any step toward building the care system is welcome but that the NDP approach has been too slow and lacks transparency. She said there is still a large portion of the population that struggles with extreme mental health and addiction challenges that will not be eligible for admission to either of the involuntary care facilities at Surrey Pretrial or Alouette Correctional because they're neither being held by the justice system or admitted under the Mental Health Act. 'It leaves out a large portion of the population that needs compassionate care and intervention,' said Rattée. 'We've seen repeatedly, and this issue is just getting worse and worse and worse in the province, that there are times where intervention needs to be happening for that person's own safety and health, and for the safety and health of others.' Even as the province works to expand the system, however, the federal government is distancing itself from the provision of involuntary care. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday, federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel said there is no evidence that forcing treatment on someone against their will actually helps. She said she is willing to review provincial programs before determining her view on whether the practice should be allowed. 'I will sit down and see results, because I think we need to work closely together, but mostly we need scientific evidence,' said Michel. 'I will not tell you (that) to force them to be treated is a way to solve the problem. I don't think for now we would have any kind of scientific evidence on this practice.' The federal health minister's comments echo concerns from drug-user advocate groups and the Canadian Mental Health Association in B.C. These groups say the province's focus should be on building out harm reduction and the voluntary care system instead of relying on involuntary care. A Charter challenge launched by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities over the Mental Health Act's provision for forced treatment in 2016 is also currently before the courts. 'We hold the position that there are circumstances as a last resort, where the state intervening in someone's care is necessary and important, but the clarity about when that should begin and when that should end, and the consistency with which it is applied does warrant attention in B.C.,' said Jonny Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association B.C. 'It's really thinking about all of the conditions that would enable good, strong, high-quality voluntary care, and, if involuntary treatment is required, all of the safeguards and conditions that need to be in place.' With files from The Canadian Press
Vancouver Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Province officially opens involuntary treatment beds on grounds of Alouette correctional facility
The B.C. NDP on Tuesday unveiled new beds that will allow authorities to force people with severe mental health and addictions to undergo treatment with the opening of a new facility at the Alouette Correctional Centre in Maple Ridge. Containing 18 beds across two buildings on the site of the women's jail, the facility will provide specialized care for individuals, both men and women, struggling with extreme mental-health challenges as well as severe brain injury from repeated drug overdoses. 'These two homes are the first of their kind in British Columbia, designed for individuals with incredibly complex mental-health disorders, who have been certified for long-term involuntary care under the Mental Health Act,' B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne told reporters. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'In many cases, residents may also be living with concurrent disorders such as substance-use brain injuries, which can affect behaviour and safety.' The announcement follows April's opening of 10 beds at the Surrey Pretrial Centre for people held by the jail while awaiting trial. Unlike that location, the beds at Alouette Correctional will not be for individuals in custody but rather those being held at secure health-care facilities under the Mental Health Act by Vancouver Coastal Health. Postmedia News asked for the number of people who have already been admitted to the facility at Surrey Pretrial but didn't hear back before deadline. Dr. Daniel Vigo, B.C.'s chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders, said the goal is to allow for specialized treatment to be provided in a secure setting while also freeing up hospital beds for other patients. 'We are currently working on some specific roadblocks with health authorities, with Health Canada, working closely with addiction doctors to desegregate mental health and substance-use care across the system so that people with severe mental illness are never excluded due to their complexity,' said Vigo. Claire Rattée, B.C. Conservative mental health and addictions critic, said any step toward building the care system is welcome but that the NDP approach has been too slow and lacks transparency. She said there is still a large portion of the population that struggles with extreme mental health and addiction challenges that will not be eligible for admission to either of the involuntary care facilities at Surrey Pretrial or Alouette Correctional because they're neither being held by the justice system or admitted under the Mental Health Act. 'It leaves out a large portion of the population that needs compassionate care and intervention,' said Rattée. 'We've seen repeatedly, and this issue is just getting worse and worse and worse in the province, that there are times where intervention needs to be happening for that person's own safety and health, and for the safety and health of others.' Even as the province works to expand the system, however, the federal government is distancing itself from the provision of involuntary care. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday, federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel said there is no evidence that forcing treatment on someone against their will actually helps. She said she is willing to review provincial programs before determining her view on whether the practice should be allowed. 'I will sit down and see results, because I think we need to work closely together, but mostly we need scientific evidence,' said Michel. 'I will not tell you (that) to force them to be treated is a way to solve the problem. I don't think for now we would have any kind of scientific evidence on this practice.' The federal health minister's comments echo concerns from drug-user advocate groups and the Canadian Mental Health Association in B.C. These groups say the province's focus should be on building out harm reduction and the voluntary care system instead of relying on involuntary care. A Charter challenge launched by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities over the Mental Health Act's provision for forced treatment in 2016 is also currently before the courts. 'We hold the position that there are circumstances as a last resort, where the state intervening in someone's care is necessary and important, but the clarity about when that should begin and when that should end, and the consistency with which it is applied does warrant attention in B.C.,' said Jonny Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association B.C. 'It's really thinking about all of the conditions that would enable good, strong, high-quality voluntary care, and, if involuntary treatment is required, all of the safeguards and conditions that need to be in place.' With files from The Canadian Press
Global News
7 days ago
- Health
- Global News
Involuntary treatment facility in Maple Ridge, B.C. could take 1st patients this month
British Columbia's first involuntary treatment facility for people who are not in the criminal justice system will begin accepting patients as early as this month, the province says. The Alouette Homes facility in Maple Ridge is equipped with 18 beds and will take patients with 'severe and persistent mental-health disorders, often combined with other challenges, such as addictions and brain injuries, which may impact their behaviour and ability to interact safely with others,' according to the Ministry of Health. 1:43 B.C. government announces new involuntary care beds, opposition says it's not enough Patients will have to meet the criteria for involuntary treatment under the Mental Health Act. Story continues below advertisement 'We want to ensure people are getting the right care, especially when they are unable to make that decision for themselves,' Health Minister Josie Osborne said. 'These beds are a vital part of government's work to build a continuum of care that works for everyone.' The facility, which is being operated in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health and the Connective Support Society, could be transferred to the homes this month, according to the ministry. Dr. Daniel Vigo, B.C.'s chief scientific advisor for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders, called the facility a 'first-of-its-kind' service in B.C. The homes will provide patients with individualized treatment and psychosocial support in a 'home-like environment,' he added. 'Before these homes, there was no housing alternative for them, due to the extreme complexity of their mental and substance-use disorders, so they were stuck in high-security hospital units indeterminately.' Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Vigo said the facility is designed to accept people who have been receiving long-term treatment in hospitals, and who have reached a point of stability that is 'still unmanageable by a supportive housing or by any other form of care.' 'Now they can live here in a humane manner,' he said, getting one-on-one treatment so that 'at some point they can aspire to scale down.' 4:47 B.C.'s chief scientific adviser on changes to involuntary care guidelines In April, the province announced a new involuntary treatment centre in the South Fraser Pretrial Centre, which will focus solely on people who are already in the justice system. Story continues below advertisement The province says it is also working to add mental health beds at hospitals around the province, which could accept patients for involuntary treatment. In March, the province released guidelines for when doctors can prescribe involuntary treatment. The 11-page guidance document lays out a trio of scenarios under which someone can be treated involuntarily under the Mental Health Act, all of them involving mental impairment. The law does not, otherwise, permit doctors to use involuntary treatment to stop someone's 'risky decision-making or override the person's harmful or self-harmful behaviour.' There have been growing calls to expand the use of involuntary treatment as the province grapples with ongoing drug and mental health crises, along with growing public pressure about street crime and disorder. BC Conservative public safety critic Elenore Sturko said the 18 beds announced Tuesday were 'very inadequate when it comes to the scope of people and the number of people who currently need to have more supportive care under the Mental Health Act.' 'This is a drop in the bucket compared to the number of resources that we need, I don't think that it goes far enough,' she said. 'And again, these are beds that rely upon someone being certified under the Mental Health Act to get this type of care, but we see time and again that there are people who need this kind of care and are not certified under the Mental Health Act.' Story continues below advertisement Sturko argued the province needs new legislation that will allow it to impose involuntary treatment on people who are a danger to themselves of others, specifically as a result of drug addiction. 'We know that 18 beds isn't going to cut it,' she said. Vigo acknowledged that people who have not been certified under the Mental Health Act won't receive involuntary treatment in B.C. 'Nor should they,' he said. 'Folks who don't have a severe mental illness, a severe addiction and a severe acquired brain injury that puts them above the threshold of sec. 22 of the MHA do not receive involuntary care in the province, they have voluntary care options.' He also responded to concerns about oversight of the treatment, given that patients are potentially being held against their will. He said that oversight will be provided by the B.C. Review Board and that patients will have rights advisors. 'My office is working very closely with physicians across the province to ensure we are using the Mental Health Act correctly in a therapeutic manner, which is what is intended,' he said. 'And the province has a very robust system of safeguards to ensure people who are receiving care under the act have their rights protected and are not receiving care that is inappropriate or unwarranted.' Story continues below advertisement Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michels said Tuesday there is no evidence that forcing people into addicitons treatment works, but that she would not intervene in the province's decisions about the practice. More to come…
CBC
13-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
B.C. doctors get new guidance on involuntary care for drug users
Social Sharing British Columbia clinicians have received new guidance about involuntary care for adults, including a directive that it cannot be used to prevent harmful "risk-taking" by people who use drugs whose behaviour is not related to mental impairment. The guidance from Dr. Daniel Vigo, B.C.'s first chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, is aimed at helping clinicians and others decide when involuntary admission is appropriate for people with both mental-health and substance-use disorders. Vigo said in a news release that involuntary treatment "can be a tool to preserve life and treat the source of impairment" among those with such complex needs. Health Minister Josie Osborne said the ongoing toxic drug crisis has led to a "small but growing number of people who are living with overlapping mental-health and substance-use challenges, as well as brain injuries from repeated overdoses." While the new guidance aims to ensure those people have the right support in place, it does not constitute changes to B.C.'s Mental Health Act, she said. "This is about providing a higher level of care to a very specific and vulnerable population," she told a news conference announcing the guidance on Wednesday. The 11-page guidance document outlines three main scenarios when someone with substance-use disorder may receive involuntary treatment: simultaneous mental disorders, acute and severe psychiatric syndrome with unknown causes, and ongoing mental impairment after remission from an acute state. But it notes the legislation must not be used as a "controlling intervention to curb risky decision-making" that is unrelated to a state of mental impairment. WATCH | How involuntary care helps or hurts people in B.C.: How involuntary opioid addiction treatment could help or harm British Columbians 6 months ago Duration 7:07 As the provincial election approaches, the poison drug crisis is top of mind. The B.C. Conservative Party has promised to use involuntary treatment for those experiencing severe addictions if it wins the October election. Tyson Singh Kelsall is a social worker and PhD candidate in SFU's faculty of health sciences. He joins Dan Burritt to unpack the issues surrounding involuntary treatment. Vigo said the vast majority of people with mental disorders, including substance-use disorders, will not meet the "stringent threshold" for involuntary treatment. "However, there is a fraction of a percentage point that in any given year will require it as a life-saving tool," he told Wednesday's news conference. Vigo said substance-use disorders are a subtype of mental disorder, and many clinicians were already applying the legislation the way it was intended. WATCH | B.C. NDP commits to involuntary care changes: B.C. plans to expand involuntary care program 6 months ago Duration 2:16 But he said the "siloed evolution" of addiction medicine and psychiatry had resulted in some making "misguided interpretations" along with "segregated services" that left patients suffering from concurrent disorders falling through the cracks. "The problem is that we had not taken stock of the complexity of concurrent disorders and acquired brain injury in the context of addiction to those new drugs," Vigo said of today's highly toxic illicit drug supply. "And for a time, there was a legitimate debate about whether the Mental Health Act applied or not. Now, in time, we have grown to understand that it does." The expansion of involuntary care to those with concurrent mental health disorders was not well received by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users. In a news conference on Tuesday, VANDU president Dave Hamm said there is a lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness of involuntary care for substance use disorders. "Money should instead be invested in detox, sobering centres and other supports," he said. "A sobering centre that is peer-led and medically supported will keep people stable and save lives while also opening pathways to treatment if they choose," he added. Not aimed at apprehending people: minister Vigo said dispelling misconceptions about involuntary care in the Mental Health Act was a step toward supporting those patients, in addition to bringing new services online, including mental-health units in corrections facilities and care homes. "If we want less people to be treated involuntarily, we need to improve the quality and the quantity of the continuum of care, voluntary and involuntary," he said. Osborne said the guidance was not aimed at making it easier to apprehend people under the Mental Health Act, rather the goal was to support clinicians in correctly identifying people who would benefit from involuntary treatment. "At the same time, it is so important that we continue to invest in and build out that continuous system of mental-health and substance-use supports that are voluntary," the minister said. The first of the new involuntary care beds open this month at the Surrey pretrial centre, while those at Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge will open later this spring.
