The Province of British Columbia has introduced new clinical guidance to help physicians determine when young people under 19 can be admitted for involuntary mental-health care. The initiative is aimed at youth facing severe and overlapping mental-health and substance-use challenges who may be unable or unwilling to seek treatment on their own.
Developed by Dr. Daniel Vigo, B.C.’s chief scientific adviser for psychiatry and toxic drugs, the guidance outlines how the Mental Health Act can be applied in situations where urgent intervention is required and when parents or guardians request care on behalf of their child. The document builds on earlier guidance for adults and is intended to promote consistent and safe decision-making across all health authorities.
Alongside the new guidance, the Province has fully implemented amendments that give every person detained under the Mental Health Act — including children and youth — the legal right to meet with an independent rights adviser. Delivered by the Canadian Mental Health Association’s B.C. division, the free and confidential service helps patients understand their rights, navigate review processes and access legal assistance if needed.
B.C. currently has more than 2,000 mental-health beds capable of providing involuntary care, with additional beds under development in Surrey and Prince George. The effort is part of a broader strategy to expand mental-health and substance-use supports, from youth services and recovery beds to crisis response teams and community treatment programs.
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