YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Opportunity for community dialogue on mental health and addictions

B.C. is facing a crisis in mental health and addictions — and we need to be talking about it more. This is why my colleague, BC United MLA Jackie Tegart, and I will soon be hosting a community conversation on this issue in Hope.

Our province’s overdose crisis continues unabated and despite a public health emergency being declared seven years ago, countless families continue to deal with unimaginable heartache and grief. Last year, 2,314 lives were lost to a toxic drug overdose — the deadliest year on record — and the situation doesn’t seem to be improving so far in 2023. Sadly, the provincial government doesn’t seem to be acting with enough urgency to address this unacceptable tragedy.

While the NDP has taken the step of decriminalizing personal possession of small amounts of illicit drugs, it has failed to meet several conditions imposed by the federal government. And as many experts have noted, harm reduction efforts like decriminalization form only part of the comprehensive approach that’s needed to help put an end to this crisis. We need a big investment in prevention, recovery and treatment — rather than the patchwork approach we have right now, that simply isn’t working.

This is why our BC United Leader Kevin Falcon has announced his plan to overhaul the delivery of mental health services and to build a recovery-oriented system of care for those suffering from addiction. Replicating innovative models like Coquitlam’s Red Fish Healing Centre in regions across the province will help give people with severe and complex needs the 24/7 support they need. Removing user fees at publicly-funded treatment centres will remove barriers for those seeking help. Creating regional recovery communities will allow people to stay for up to a year with individualized, holistic treatment support. Although always a last resort, we will implement involuntary care for adults and youth at risk of harm to themselves or others.