On Mental Health
This past week, a man by the name of Steven Michael Kokotec was taken to hospital for psychiatric reasons, and after being released, he jumped off a ten story parking garage, killing himself. On December 23, another patient, Margaret Draskovich, walked out of the psychiatric ward never to be seen or heard from again. The police believe she killed herself by jumping into the Detroit river based on evidence found at the river.
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In my opinion, the Ontario Mental Health Act is in dire need of changes. I shall focus on the story of Steven Michael Kokotec because it highlights the need for these changes. Stephen walked into the police station and talked to an officer about how he was out of medication; they asked him if he wanted to take an ambulance to the hospital to which he agreed. Upon seeing a staff psychiatrist, Stephen was evaluated, given medication and released. After again appearing at the police station to tell the same officer that he had acquired his meds, he then left and proceeded to the top of the parking garage in which he jumped off, killing himself. Protocols were allegedly followed and I have no doubt that they were so this is not to blame the hospital or staff.
The issue I have is that these types of things could possibly be avoided if people who seek mental health assistance, such as seeing a psychiatrist in hospital, should be committed for at least 48 hours. I do realize that if a patient answers yes to questions asked of them such as "do you feel like hurting yourself" then they are held on a form 1, which requires a full psychiatric evaluation and involuntary admission. Apparently Steven Michael Kokotec's answers did not show that he posed a threat to himself or others and so he was released.
I do not claim to know much of the details surrounding this case or the issues that the deceased faced, but it appears to me that the system failed in some manner because he is now dead. Had he been admitted under a form 1, perhaps they could have gotten a better understanding of what was happening. I should point out that his family was not notified of his dealings with the hospital, most likely because he is an adult. Although getting a hold of his family could have helped in some way I am sure. We do not know what psychiatric conditions he was facing, but his family surely does. A two day admittance could have changed the outcome, or it might not have but I think seeing a psychiatrist for a short amount of time isn't the answer, and certainly anyone can lie when the questions are asked to determine a patient's intent. People with mental health issues can change quite rapidly in a short amount of time, one minute seemingly calm and, although I hate to use the word, "normal", while the next they could be cycling between moods.
There is clearly a need for changes to the Ontario Mental Health Act and hopefully they come soon.
| Print article | This entry was posted by zerodivision on 01/14/11 at 12:09:00 pm . Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. |
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01/14/11 @ 07:07:44 pm
Hotel Dieu turned me away from help 5 times in the past 10 years. They make you talk to a social worker for 20 mins, have you sign a paper with directions -- probably illegal to do with someone like yourself in a suicidal state-- and send you off into the streets. I bet they just treat white males like this, but cater fully to the new immigrants of shitskin descent. Great country!
01/15/11 @ 02:44:19 pm
I just happened to come across this article, and I must disagree on a few points. First of all, this may be a statistically rare incident which does not warrant an overhaul of the Ontario Mental Health Act. Second, reacting to this kind of thing by automatically blaming the system, is exactly the kind of response which has led to the overblown nanny state we now live in. If a person chooses to end their life, it is ultimately their decision. It is hazardous to task any government with solving the ills of the world for every individual. This strategy is sure to fail, and also sure to deliver increasingly unrestricted power into the hands of bureaucrats. Rather than focusing on how we can give more power to the government, perhaps we should be trying to empower individuals to seek solutions to their own problems, without interference from excessive laws and regulations. Finally, you stated that "his family surely does (understand the issues he was facing)", yet you hesitated to use the world "normal" later on. I would say that assuming his family knew anything about his circumstances is a "normal", yet mistaken, assumption based on preconceived ideas. There are many, many people who either have no family, or have little to no contact with family members due to family disfunction or other matters.
I get the impression that this article was well intentioned, however misguided. It is refreshing to see someone taking an interest in the circumstances of those around them, for that I have to commend you. I see my fellow Canadians everyday sinking further in apathy, so I am glad I came across your article :)
01/15/11 @ 10:31:43 pm
Thank you for the response. I followed your link to the Libertarian blog, I am curious if it is yours? I myself fall into that spectrum of political ideology, however, my beliefs in universal health care clash with it.
As to your points, it very well might be a statistical rarity for these things to happen, but these instances are not the only reasoning behind my wanting to see it changed. For example, if one sees a psychiatrist, typically they are put on medication and that is where it ends. One does not get the therapy that must be used along side it and it is my belief that treating a symptom rather than a cause is bad medicine. Pharmaceuticals only go so far. Also, spending a short period of time with a doctor per visit and being sent on your way seems inhumane. People suffer and often times talking with someone can offer a lot of relief.
This doesn't happen unless one is willing to pay for therapy because therapy, be it with a psychoanalyst, psychologist, counselor or what not is often times not covered by OHIP. Many agree that the system is failing those with psychological issues and these latest incidents further that point.
It is easy to blame the system because the system was put in place to help those who are unable to help themselves. I agree that if a person chooses to end their life, it is their decision, but when a person is mentally sick, is it truly their decision? A schizophrenic experiencing auditory hallucinations isn't in a normal mental state to decide what is right or wrong. A person cannot help themselves when they cannot process everyday life in a normal way.
My hesitation to use the word normal in my post was because the word normal can mean many things to many people and surely his behaviour might have been considered normal for him in the eyes of his family but not in the eyes of society.
I agree that handing too much power to the government leads to a nanny state and there are many posts in my blog where I discuss the dismay I have toward the Premier of Ontario for being Premier "Dad". However, things do need to change because too many people are sick and not receiving the help that is required to allow them to live a comfortable life. There are many stories that I have heard and have witnessed personally on the issues of mental health care in Ontario that do not paint a pretty picture. Although I do not expect the government to treat us like children, they do need to fix a system that is not functioning properly.