B.C. families affected by suicide welcome proposed bill

Editor’s note: This story contains references to suicide. If you or a loved one is at risk of self-harm, the BC Crisis Centre can be reached at 1-800-784-2433. Translation services are available.

Two Metro Vancouver families grieving the loss of their loved ones to suicide are supporting a suggested change to legislation they hope could prevent others from experiencing the same anguish.

On Wednesday, BC Liberal MLA Elenore Sturko introduced a private member’s bill that aims to prevent suicide by ensuring medical responders get all the information they can about someone seeking medical help.

This includes information from family members before the decision is made to admit or release someone.

“Every year hundreds of people in a moment of crisis are apprehended under section 28 of the Mental Health Act of British Columbia,” explained Sturko while introducing the bill on Wednesday.

“With multiple documented cases in B.C. where individuals have been apprehended, not certified and then have self-harmed or died by suicide shortly after their release, it’s clear that this is a gap that must be filled.”

Read More: B.C. suicide prevention private member’s bill introduced by Liberal MLA

Sturko referenced the case of Cst. Nicole Chan, who died by suicide in 2019 just a few hours after being released from an emergency room. Jen Chan, Nicole’s sister, was at the legislature for the bill’s introduction.

“I’m hoping that this can prevent future deaths and other people having to go through what we’re going through,” she said.

Jen said she was “shocked” when she learned her sister was released just two hours after she was admitted.

“If there was more information and communication between different parties, that could have been prevented. She could have been kept a little bit longer and her life might have been saved,” she said.

Lorraine Marr’s son, Todd, took his life in 2009 after being released from the hospital. Sturko, who was an RCMP officer at the time, was at the scene when he died. Sturko and Marr have had a bond ever since.

“We knew we had to support her because this is what we wanted all along for other people,” Marr said. “All of our friends say ‘do it. Let’s do it’. It’s emotional but we’re going to get it done.”

Read More: Why a B.C. MLA is advocating for involuntary addictions care

Sturko has said that the incident involving Todd 14 years ago led to addiction and mental health challenges, which she opened up about last month.

The NDP appears to be in support of the Liberal MLA’s amendment to the Mental Health Act. B.C. Premier David Eby thanked Sturko for bringing the family’s stories to light, but says changes like this are complicated and can often lead to unintended consequences.

-With files from Sonia Aslam