By Nancy Ford, retired Executive Director, Pathways SMIS, and family member.
For more than 25 years, Pathways Serious Mental Illness Society has educated and supported thousands of families dealing with mental illness. Through this work, we have gained deep insight into Anosognosia—a neurobiological condition in which individuals experiencing psychosis cannot recognize they are ill. This lack of insight, often compounded by paranoia and fear, undermines a person’s ability to make safe decisions and leaves families unable to intervene before tragedy occurs.
Consider most major decisions in life are made collaboratively, with input from professionals and loved ones, yet when someone is deteriorating into psychosis—on a path that too often leads to homelessness, victimization, addiction, or involvement with the justice system—our current systems still rely on the judgment of the individual at the very moment they are least capable of making informed choices.
To prevent these predictable and preventable outcomes, BC has adopted relational, coordinated treatment models of care that include clinicians, families, and the individual wherever possible. This approach leads to better stabilization, stronger continuity of care, and dramatically improved long-term outcomes.
As a parent, I have experienced this intervention firsthand. Because of BC’s Mental Health Act and the FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy) Act, my son was hospitalized at a critical moment, stabilized, and given the chance to recover.
Involuntary intervention is not punitive, it is lifesaving. This is why my family, and many others, strongly support the Province of British Columbia’s Premier Eby with direction from Dr. Daniel Vigo, BC’s Chief Scientific Advisor in strengthening the Mental Health Act to ensure that involuntary patients receive timely treatment upon arrival at hospital. Early intervention restores judgment, reduces long-term system burden, and gives families renewed hope. For thousands of families across BC, prompt involuntary treatment is not an abstract policy debate—it is the difference between recovery and irreversible harm. We urge legislators to continue advancing legislation that protects the most vulnerable and supports coordinated, evidence-informed care.
Family Involvement Saves Lives
Family involvement and support are key to better recovery and stability for those with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and related illnesses. To see how families across Canada are advocating for lifesaving policies, visit the Family Alliance on Severe Mental Illnesses (FASMI) website.