B.C. adds 18 involuntary care beds in Maple Ridge for individuals with complex mental health needs, aiming to fill critical gaps in long-term psychiatric support.
New Facility Opens for Long-Term Psychiatric Care
The British Columbia government has announced the creation of 18 new beds dedicated to long-term involuntary psychiatric care at Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge. The move, unveiled Tuesday by Health Minister Josie Osborne, addresses the urgent need for stable, therapeutic environments for individuals with complex mental health challenges who are not part of the criminal justice system.
Dedicated Site Separate from Correctional Facilities
While Alouette Homes is adjacent to the Alouette Correctional Centre, Osborne emphasized the facility is entirely distinct from justice-linked care programs. “These beds are not for individuals in custody,” she stated. “They are for people requiring therapeutic, supportive long-term care under the Mental Health Act.”
Unprecedented Model of Open-Ended Care
Dr. Daniel Vigo, B.C.’s chief scientific adviser for psychiatry and toxic drugs, said this initiative marks a first in the province: a long-term, home-like setting offering indefinite stays based on individual needs. “This offers an alternative to indefinite hospitalization in high-security psychiatric wards,” he explained. The duration of care will be flexible, depending on patient progress and recovery.
Rollout Begins Next Week
The first patients are expected to move into Alouette Homes as early as next week. This development follows the April launch of a 10-bed facility at Surrey Pretrial Centre for incarcerated individuals dealing with mental illness and addiction. That program aims to break cycles of repeat incarceration by addressing root causes of health-related criminal behavior.
Controversial Policy Amid National Debate
The addition of involuntary care beds enters a broader national conversation. Provinces like Alberta and Ontario are also pursuing similar measures, while federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel noted there is no clear evidence supporting forced treatment. Still, she affirmed all Canadians should have access to recovery services.
Mental Health Act Under Review
Osborne confirmed the province is actively reviewing the Mental Health Act to identify systemic service gaps and long-term solutions. Bonnie Wilson of Vancouver Coastal Health shared that the new beds may also be made available to patients from outside the Metro Vancouver area, based on clinical need.
Lived Experiences Drive Policy
To illustrate the need, Wilson described a typical case: a young man with years of mental health struggles, suicide attempts, and self-medication with street drugs. “After years of cycling through hospitals and services, this model offers him a stable, healing environment,” she said.
The expansion reflects B.C.’s growing commitment to integrated mental health care, balancing individual rights with community safety and therapeutic outcomes.
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