Advocate hails promise to establish Moncton mental health court
Paul Ouellet says move is long overdue, has 'no doubt' this time it will happen
It's been a long time coming, but mental health advocate Paul Ouellet is celebrating the new justice minister's commitment to establish a mental health court in Moncton.
"I'm extremely happy for each and every person in the province of New Brunswick suffering from mental illness and addiction," said Ouellet, a retired accountant, who has spent his adult life managing care for his three siblings who have schizophrenia.
"It's long overdue."
In an interview with Information Morning Moncton, Rob McKee reiterated his party's commitment to establish more mental health courts in the province.
"I've been advocating for Moncton for the last several years, in my role as opposition critic, and it'll certainly be on the agenda to move forward with that," said McKee.Â
"It has to be done. It's such a big need in in our city."
Moncton
Centre MLA Rob McKee is minister of justice, attorney general and
minister responsible for addictions and mental health services. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
An accused may be referred to a mental health court when a judge has reason to believe that mental illness played a key role in the alleged criminal behaviour.
People who go through mental health courts are enrolled in a program, which can last up to a year, where they work on the underlying issues that may have contributed to their behaviour. The support they receive may include mental health treatment, but also support from case workers on housing, education, unemployment and addictions. And incarceration may be avoided.
Mental health courts are not a new concept in New Brunswick â one has operated in Saint John since 2000, intermittently.
Ouellet attended a session of the court a few years ago and was impressed.
"It was the best, most enjoyable four hours of my life to see how those entering the mental health court ⊠were treated," said Ouellet.
"Totally different from someone appearing in front of a judge in a regular court. Treated with respect and dignity and compassion."
Mary-Ann
Campbell, a professor of clinical psychology and criminal justice at
UNBSJ, says the mental courts have received high marks from those who
have gone through them. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
Both the Gallant and Higgs governments committed to expanding mental health courts throughout the province, but none were established.
"Promises were made to me to get the mental health court across the province by each minister ⊠but it never materialized," said Ouellet.
Mary-Ann Campbell, a professor of clinical psychology and criminal justice at UNB Saint John, said the courts have received high marks from those who have gone through them.
It's viewed as more of a parental environment, "where you have even a judge and Crown attorney who are concerned with your welfare and trying to do what works best for you, to help reduce your criminal behaviour and enhance your quality of life and deal with all your vulnerabilities," said Campbell.Â
"That helps them become more engaged in that process to the betterment of risk reduction."
While
McKee didn't set a timeline for when the Moncton court would open,
Ouellet says he is confident that this government will make it happen. (The Associated Press)
Campbell said these courts don't offer more lenient punishment, but those who go through them are often in the system longer, and are more highly supervised, than those who are processed through the regular system.
She also said it's important to point out simply having a mental illness does not make someone predisposed to commit crime, and studies have shown that people with mental illness are more likely to be the victims of crime.
'Full confidence' in premier
While McKee didn't set a timeline for when the Moncton court would open, Ouellet said he is confident that this government will be the one to extend the service.
"I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever," said Ouellet.Â
"I have full confidence in Premier Susan Holt and in Minister Robert McKee, and you will see it happen."
Ouellet is also confident about another long-time goal, for the province to appoint an official mental health advocate, something that was also promised in the Liberal platform in last month's election.
In 2019, the legislature voted unanimously to appoint an advocate, but it never happened.
"I want my people to be looked after," said Ouellet, who has become an unofficial advocate for many in the Moncton area fighting to get the mental health and addictions treatment they need.
"They deserve to be looked after. It is not their fault if they are suffering from mental illness, addiction and homelessness."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Information Morning Moncton
David Amos
"where you have even a judge and Crown attorney who are concerned with your welfare and trying to do what works best for you, to help reduce your criminal behaviour and enhance your quality of life and deal with all your vulnerabilities," said Campbell.
Too Too Funny
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2023/02/failure-to-appoint-promised-mental.html
David Amos
Need I remind folks that I have been down this road many times?
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/mental-health-advocate-paul-ouellette-new-brunswick-nikki-kennedy-1.6740103
Jos Allaire
This will definitely happen. Rob McKee's father chaired an inquiry into mental health and his report is gathering dust on a shelf. About time his recommendations are implementedđđâ
David Amos
Reply to Jos Allaire
I talked to his Father years ago Trust that he knows what I think of his son
David Webb
How many years to get into family court? At least 2. How many years to get to criminal court? At least 2. Where are all of these judges and crown attorneys and free attorneys for the addicted/mentally challenged accused, also the treatment and management staff going to come from. Sue did promise to not have deficit spending. Higher taxes for landlords and home owners will just make the issue worse for people. Magic beans may be just the ticket.
David Amos
Reply to David Webb
I am happy that you see the humour in this because if you didn't you would go crazy
Denis Reagan
Not a Canadian citizen, but desperately needing mental help, can we be generous and give Trump free neurological care? His two buddies here, PP and Ford (who said he would vote for him if he could), might push this need? With an unhinged president down there, we would eventually pay for it here. Let's pay now through our medical system.
David Amos
Reply to Denis Reagan
Are you happy now?
Jack Straw
What are the recidivism numbers like? That is the real measuring stick as to its success rate.
David Amos
Reply to Jack Straw
Good luck getting an answer
Greg Miller
Sounds like a great plan BUT how about more access to mental health emergency medial care?
MR Cain
Reply to Greg Miller
https://horizonnb.ca/services/addictions-mental-health/adult-services/emergency-mental-health-services/
MR Cain
Reply to MR Cain
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/health/AddictionsandMentalHealth/helpline.html
David Amos
Reply to Greg Miller
Good question
Doug kirby
I think NB is in good hands finally...it's about people
David Webb
Reply to Doug kirby
Burying people with inflationary taxes will surely improve country wide issues.
David Amos
Reply to David Webb
Thats the plan
Charlotte Flinn
Very good to see. Hopefully over time more of the justice system can look more like this - so many of the people who end up in the courts are there because of problems they don't have the tools to fix.
Denis Reagan
Reply to Charlotte Flinn
Imagine the problems solved if we fix the source in time. Not simply mental, but criminal. How many kids grow up in a trash world and need to learn how to survive in whatever way is available. Spend our tax money on them before they eventually cost us so much more in the courts. More gyms, rinks, pools and free of charge would help.
David Amos
Reply to Charlotte Flinn
Dream on
Gisele Fontaine
This would most certainly be an early Christmas gift for all!!!
David Amos
Reply to Gisele Fontaine
Yea Right
Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Failure to appoint promised mental health advocate in N.B. 'a complete disgrace'
From: "Higgs, Premier Blaine (PO/CPM)"<Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca>
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2022 15:36:11 +0000
Subject: RE: Methinks all the doctors, lawyers and particularly the
LIEBranos know why Higgy ain't crazy about appointing a mental health
advocate anytime soon N'esy Pas Robert McKee???
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Hello,
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Due to the volume of incoming messages, this is an automated response
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Sâil sâagit dâune demande des mĂ©dias, veuillez communiquer avec le
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Email/Courriel:
premier@gnb.ca/premier.
From: "Fitch, Bruce Hon. (DH/MS)"<Bruce.Fitch@gnb.ca>
Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2022 20:11:48 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: YO Kelly Lamrock I called today to speak to
YOU True or False??
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email. I am currently out of the office until
Tuesday, November 15. If you need immediate assistance, please
contact my Executive Secretary, Francine Belliveau, at (506) 453-2851
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If your request is Constituency related, please contact Kathy Connors
at my Constituency office in Riverview at Kathy.Connors@gnb.ca or by
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Thanks again for your email.
Hon. Bruce Fitch
MLA for Riverview
------------------------------
Merci pour votre courriel. Je suis présentement à l'extérieur du
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Si votre demande est liée à la circonscription, veuillez contacter
Kathy Connors Ă mon bureau de circonscription Ă Riverview Ă
Kathy.Connors@gnb.ca ou par téléphone au 506-869-6117.
Merci encore pour votre courriel.
L'hon. Bruce Fitch
Député de Riverview
From: "Mitton, Megan (LEG)"<Megan.Mitton@gnb.ca>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2023 11:51:05 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks all the doctors, lawyers and
particularly the LIEBranos know why Higgy ain't crazy about appointing
a mental health advocate anytime soon N'esy Pas Robert McKee???
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
(Le français suit)
Thank you for your email. I will be out of the office while Iâm in
Fredericton participating in the Climate Change and Environmental
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Pour une assistance immédiate, veuillez appeler mon bureau de
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Pour les demandes des médias, veuillez composer le 506-429-2285.
Megan Mitton (elle / she, her)
(506) 378-156â5 (bureau / office)
Députée de Memramcook-Tantramar | Responsable en matiÚre de la santé,
le logement, le changement climatique, et les droits humains.
MLA for Memramcook-Tantramar | Advocate and Critic on files including
Health, Housing, Climate Change, and Human Rights.
Le Nouveau-Brunswick est situé sur les territoires traditionnels, non
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situated on the unceded traditional territories of the Miâkmaq,
Wolastoqiyik & Peskotomuhkati.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Macfarlane, Bruce (ECO/BCE)"<Bruce.Macfarlane@gnb.ca>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2023 11:51:06 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks all the doctors, lawyers and
particularly the LIEBranos know why Higgy ain't crazy about appointing
a mental health advocate anytime soon N'esy Pas Robert McKee???
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
OUT OF OFFICE ALERT: I am away from the office, serving as
Communications Lead for Team New Brunswick at the 2023 Canada Winter
Games. I will be monitoring this account for Canada Games-related
inquiries, but you may also try to text me at 506-476-1376. Should you
require immediate assistance on government media matters, please
contact Alex Vass at Alex.Vass@gnb.ca<mailto:Alex.
should be back in the office sometime after Tuesday, March 7th.
ABSENT DU BUREAU : Je suis absent du bureau, car j'occupe le poste de
responsable des communications pour Ăquipe Nouveau-Brunswick aux Jeux
d'été du Canada de 2022. Je surveillerai ce compte pour les questions
relatives aux Jeux dâhiver du Canada de 2023 mais vous pouvez aussi
essayer de m'envoyer un message texte au 506-476-1376. Si vous avez
besoin d'une aide immédiate pour les questions relatives aux médias
gouvernementaux, veuillez communiquer avec Alex Vass Ă
Alex.Vass@gnb.ca<mailto:Alex.
bureau le mardi 7 mars
.
---------- Original message ----------
From: Premier of Ontario | Premier ministre de lâOntario <Premier@ontario.ca>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2023 11:51:06 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks all the doctors, lawyers and
particularly the LIEBranos know why Higgy ain't crazy about appointing
a mental health advocate anytime soon N'esy Pas Robert McKee???
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued.
You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read,
reviewed and taken into consideration.
There may be occasions when, given the issues you have raised and the
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Thanks again for your email.
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Methinks all the doctors, lawyers and particularly the LIEBranos know why Higgy ain't crazy about appointing a mental health advocate anytime soon N'esy Pas Robert McKee???
| Â |
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Tue, Feb 21, 2023 at 7:51 AM |
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