Province responds to ‘Hyde Report’
Posted May 12, 2011 01:59:09 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Dexter Government is outlining stronger partnerships and better training as key elements to address care for people in custody who are living with mental illness.
The province’s new “Building Bridges” plan is in response to Judge Anne Derrik’s inquiry into the jail cell death of a schizophrenic man in the Burnside jail in November, 2007. Howard Hyde died 30 hours after being Tasered by guards at the jail but Judge Derrick ruled that was not the direct cause of Hyde’s death.
The province’s plan outlines about 90 actions to address recommendations in Judge Derrick’s report and focuses on five areas: training, use of force, collaboration, mental health services within the criminal justice system and access to and delivery of mental health services.
Health Minister Maureen MacDonald says the government has appointed a Mental Health and Justice Liaison committee to oversee the work ahead.
“This committee has already met,” says MacDonald. “Their work will continue and they will report to the deputy’s of health and wellness and justice so that as issues arise, they are discussed and addressed.”
However, the province’s plan does not address one of Judge Derrick’s key recommendations that states Tasers should not be used on people suffering from mental illness.
“The difficulty with putting a blanket on the use of the conducted energy weapon is that it’s very difficult sometimes in situations where conflict is there, or there’s a high level of disturbance, for the police officer to determine whether the person is suffering from mental illness,” says Justice Minister Ross Landry.
Executive Director of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia, Stephen Ayre, thinks the province’s new plan is an excellent first step. But, he still thinks there’s a lot more that needs to be done.
“Particularly the development of a mental health strategy for Nova Scotia,” he says. “That was alluded to and referred to numerous times by both ministers. That’s going to be an important document in terms of how they are going to move forward in terms of resourcing additional funds for mental health.”
A report on the progress of the “Building Bridges” plan will be released in 2012.
