With one woman’s care costs topping $800K, Ontario faces renewed debate over expanding forced treatment laws for people with severe mental illness.
Push for Reform Grows Amid Soaring Mental Health Costs
A renewed debate is unfolding in Ontario over whether the province should expand forced mental health treatment for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. The discussion has intensified following a case that’s cost public systems over $800,000 since 2018 — highlighting the complex human and financial toll of current policies.
Case Sparks Attention to Systemic Gaps
At the center of the debate is a 76-year-old woman living with bipolar I disorder. Her history includes more than 300 days in jail, multiple hospitalizations, and ongoing homelessness in Cornwall, Ontario. Despite brief periods of stability in assisted housing, she now lives in a tent, relying on the local unhoused community for support.
Her story, while extreme, is not unique. Cornwall police report managing 20 similar individuals, five of whom each triggered more than 50 police responses in 2024 alone.
Psychiatric Community Urges Legislative Change
Mental health experts, led by Dr. Karen Shin of the Ontario Psychiatric Association, argue for legislative reform to expand forced care under specific conditions. The association’s proposals include extending involuntary hospital admission periods and permitting treatment during court appeals if a patient has been deemed incapable of informed decision-making.
Dr. Shin emphasized that allowing untreated illness to spiral not only endangers the individual but burdens the system. “Choice matters, but it must be an informed, capable choice,” she said.
Civil Liberties Groups Call for Community-Based Solutions
In contrast, advocates like the Empowerment Council warn that forced treatment can be traumatic and counterproductive. They argue that Ontario lacks proper community services and that investing in peer support, transitional housing, and voluntary care would yield better outcomes without compromising patient autonomy.
“Instead of spending hundreds of thousands on crisis response, why not fund the support services that actually help?” asked council director Jennifer Chambers.
Millions Spent, Few Long-Term Results
An analysis of the woman’s interactions with the health and justice systems reveals over $800,000 in public expenditures since 2018. These include hospital stays, jail time, emergency housing, court proceedings, and policing. Yet, despite these efforts, she remains unhoused and without sustained support.
Costs include:
- $210,000 for hospital care
- $121,000 for jail time
- $364,000 for police response
- $90,000+ for court and legal aid proceedings
These figures reflect a system struggling to provide meaningful care or long-term solutions.
Next Steps Remain Unclear
While experts across sectors agree on the need for reform, consensus on how to proceed remains elusive. Calls for stronger legal frameworks are countered by urgent appeals to invest in community health infrastructure and human-centered care.
Provincial ministries responsible for health and justice have yet to respond to repeated inquiries about whether changes to the Mental Health Act are being considered. Meanwhile, lives continue to hang in the balance — and the financial cost to public services continues to mount.
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