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Carol Crenna: focus
on fitness fashion

Fashion: 14

Classifieds 986-6222

Distribution 386-1337

FIREFIGHTER CURTIS Bremner takes a break after he and other North Van-
couver District firefighters set this house ablaze. The structure, slated for
demolition, was used by the fire department to train new recruits on tech-

nique.

ealth Act attacked

Ma West Van mothers say proposed changes will
m make treatment for mentally-ill more difficult

TWO WEST Vancouver mothers of schizophrenic sons say

rev
make it more difficult for

obtain treatment.

One recommendation under
consideration by the Ministry of
Health proposes that mentally
people be provided with services
without their consent under men-
tal health legislation if they are
deemed to be a danger to
themselves or others.

A second recommendation stip.
ulates that those who appear to be
seriously deteriorating due to a

ons proposed for the B.C. Mental Health Act will
triously mentally-ill people to

By Michael Becker

News Reporter

mental disorder receive involun-
lary assessment only if they seem
incapable of living in the com-
munity and have uv history of
behavior that couid lead to an
imminent danger of serious physi-

cal impairment.

The mentally ill ap-
parently deteriorating due to a
mental disorder and who do not
meet the ‘tdanger” criteria could,
under a court order, receive in-
voluntary assessment,

But ome families
schizophrenics believe such d

ns best left to doctors.

Said) Marguerite Hardin, the
West) Vancouver mother of a
schizophrenic son, “If a person is
obviously dangerous, they can
committed by two doctors.

“But if they are only obviously

who are

of

very ill, then you have to go to
court and you have to prove to a
judge who may not know an
thing about mental illness that thi
person is ill and needs to be
treated. Adding the court re-
quirement adds del and costs.”’
if the recommendations stand,
ardin si a_orevised Mental
Health Act will be more stringent
in its conditions for involuntary
treatment and committal.

“They ure proposing a Paul
emphasis on dungerousness, and
this is usually intepreted as being
physical danger.

“But what they domt & into
account is that the untreated ill-
Ness is danverous 10 the persen,
because with schizophrenia in par-
ticular the psychosis seems to do
permanent damage and leaves the

person with cognitive deficits."*

Hardin argues that the use of a
“danger’’ clause as a condition of
involuntary treatment could leave
the newly mentally-iJl out in the
cold,

“It leaves out
having a first
which can te
diagnose and
years,"’ she said.

“There used to be a clause
(covering involunta treatment)
where it was unless there was a
danger or the person was unable
to look after their own welfare.
The previous government in their
wisdom deleted that welfare
clause,"* Hardin added,

Helen Jenkins, the

those who are
psychotic break,
very difficult’ to
can go on for

West Van-

See Ontario pare 3