JUSTICE FOR MEL.

The 15-Day Psychiatric Hold Law Cost Our Daughter Her Life. Our daughter who was supposed to be in intensive care following resuscitation was discharged . She wondered  out of hospital emergency unit and was later found unresponsive outside hospital premises without vital signs . Her death was preventable: Admission- Discharge- 72hrs later Emergency Admission- Discharge - 17mins later found unresponsive without vital signs-Death.  

The 15-Day Mental Health Act cap led to the death of our daughter after blocking rehabilitation transfer. It shows a direct cause-and-effect from law → discharge → death.

Psychiatric hospitalization-Death . We're seeking justice for our daughter's death. 

Thousands of Canadian families are losing their loved ones due to systematic loopholes and lack of medical professionalism . Canada needs health care system that will value lives not legislature/ paper work .  A health care system with a centralized data base easily accessible by medical professionals. A health care system where medical professionals have the duty to care and not abandonment and neglect. After losing our daughter due to systematic loopholes and lack of health care  team professionalism, l'm calling on the Ontario government to amend health care system, extend involuntary psychiatric hospitalization from 15 to 30 days. Broaden involuntary hospitalization to include severe physical deterioration.  Have medical team with high level of medical professionalism / duty to care. Mel's family was denied support in the plea for smooth transition from hospital into inpatient rehabilitation treatment programs. 

Our daughter died 72hrs after Humber River Hospital discharged her.

As her SDM, arrangements were being made for a smooth transition into an inpatient rehabilitation program, but the law forced her home before it could start. Mel's family was denied support in the plea for smooth transition from hospital into treatment program. The cry that was met with "why am l keeping her in hospital... simply for a phone call... her stay will be extended for 2 more days and that's it..". I wish family plight for help was listed to, Mel would be alive today. Mel was discharged despite assurances that family was  in the process securing inpatient treatment program for her.

 72 hours after her discharge she was re-admitted into Toronto Western Hospital with a breathing rate 4 per/min , the medical team failed her, she was resuscitated supposed to be under intensive care but was  discharged , she wondered outside hospital grounds stumbled and was later found unresponsive  without vital signs . If they had cared for her life , she’d be alive . Mel's death was preventable . How could a patient rushed to the hospital with a breathing rate of 4 per/min be discharged after resuscitation without medical care team efforts to contact family members. Without any effort to put her under supervision in ICU 

The advocacy for change can provide critical support and potentially save lives of many Canadians . Justice for our daughter Melly.

THE ISSUE:
Mental health is a critical aspect of overall well-being and has a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities. In Ontario, the current mental health care system allows for a maximum of 15 days of involuntary psychiatric hospitalization, a timeframe often insufficient for proper diagnosis, stabilization, and treatment of individuals facing severe mental health crises.

The complex nature of mental health disorders often requires more than the existing 15-day period for effective intervention. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals need adequate time to carefully assess, diagnose, and customize treatment plans that truly meet the needs of the patient. Extending the hospitalization period to at least 30 days would provide the necessary time to implement comprehensive care: starting with stabilization, continuing with evaluation, and ensuring initial responses to treatment protocols are adequate follow up .

According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, one in five Canadians experience mental health or addiction problems each year. In many cases, inadequate initial care can lead to repeated hospitalizations, because short-term solutions do not address the complexity of mental health issues. Prolonged stabilization and continuous care are vital for breaking this cycle. By extending the hospitalization period, Ontario can enhance the support structure, allowing individuals to make substantial progress towards recovery with involvement of SDM in patients treatment plans.

Moreover, extending the hospitalization period can facilitate the necessary attention and care they need, reducing the likelihood of relapse, and promoting better long-term outcomes.

Let's advocate for this important change to our mental health laws. Join us in urging the Ontario Government to extend involuntary psychiatric hospitalization from 15 to 30 days, broaden involuntary hospitalization criteria to include severe physical deterioration and involve SDM in patients treatment plans.

Invest in effective and long lasting treatment plans for patients in psychiatric hospitals.

I am a mother turned advocate asking Minister Sylvia Jones, Premier Doug Ford and their team to:

Change the law and amend the 15-days to 30-days 
Mandate province-wide EHR integration 
Build the centralized health database Ontario lacks. 

Our daughter’s story is proof we value paperwork over patients. Our daughter died because she was discharged prematurely. Family wasn't notified of her hospitalization. She wondered outside hospital premises and was later found unresponsive by a by-stander

No more deaths from arbitrary deadlines, medical professionals negligence and missing data. 
Justice For Mel

Sign / share this petition and make a difference in the lives of countless individuals affected by mental health issues.

😊 Let's get this petition going!

https/www.change.org/ActNowOnMentalHealth

Why 30 days?
- Allows for proper medication adjustment and stabilization
- Ensures access to comprehensive treatment plans
- Involves families struggling to support their loved ones  in patients treatment plans 

The current 15-day limit often leaves patients without sufficient care, leading to devastating consequences. Let's urge the Ontario government to prioritize mental health care and support those struggling.

Sign and share this petition to make a difference!"

*Social Media Posts:*
1. 🚨 Calling all Ontarians! After losing our daughter who was turn away multiple times from hospital, I'm fighting for the extension of involuntary psychiatric hospitalization from 15days to at least 30 days .Broaden involuntary hospitalization to include severe physical deterioration. Sign & share this petition to support mental health care reform! 
2. 😔 Mental health matters! Join me and my family in urging the Ontario government to extend hospitalization stays and save lives. Create better facilities for those impacted by mental health.  Our daughter was left unattended after resuscitation : 

3. 💡 15 days isn't enough. Let's give those struggling with mental health the care they need. Sign and share this petition to extend involuntary hospitalization to 30 days! Save lives.

https//www.change.org/ActNowOnMentalHealth