Lack of Services for Vancouver's Mentally Ill

A new report by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) shows that VPD officers are filling the gap left by an inadequate mental health system. Lost in Transition: How a Lack of Capacity in the Mental Health System is Failing Vancouver's Mentally Ill and Draining Police Resources, reports that on average, 31% of calls to the police involve a mentally ill person. In some areas, this number rises to almost 50%. Translated into economic terms, police time spent dealing with the mentally ill is equivalent to $9 million annually. The report blames sharp cuts in the capacity at Riverview Hospital (down to 200 beds from 4600) and a lack of community support services. Read an article about the report here.