Almost 75% of the Criminals Involved in Stranger Attacks in Metro Vancouver Have a Mental Health Illness. Riverview Hospital Must be Re-opened!

Re-opening Riverview Hospital Under the Governance of BC Mental Health and Addiction Services would play a big part in the solution of the increasingly, disturbing and frightening ‘stranger’ random attacks - 4 per day, and 16 sexual assaults in the month of July alone in Vancouver, not including the rest of Metro Vancouver.

Riverview Hospital with 800 beds, was closed in 2012. Most, if not all the patients released, ended up on their own, homeless on the DTES of Vancouver. Negative results were seen from the start, and currently Metro Vancouver has seen a sharp increase in violent crimes. It’s been reported that 73% of the criminals involved in these attacks have a mental health illness.  As of 2009 the DTES was home to an estimated 3600 individuals who were considered to be an extremely high health risk due to severe addiction and/or mental illness, equivalent to 60% of the population in this category for the 1 million people in the Vancouver Coastal Health region.

“1 in 3 people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime and 1 in 5 will experience a substance use disorder.  Mental illness and substance use can exacerbate each other” which in turn can easily cause random violence.

Vancouver Coastal Health has opened up 2 housing facilities as a ‘Pilot Program’ with [only] 30 beds spread over the two facilities. The thousands of people suffering with severe mental health illness and/or substance use disorders require a specific health care facility with the necessary care and treatment they require. Riverview Hospital can be re-opened; renovated; space for 800 beds, equipment, and  treatment and care from psychiatrists, medical doctors, addiction counsellors and nurses.

With the assistance of the major city Mayors in Metro Vancouver and the Provincial and Federal Governments, Riverview can once again become fully operational. This can be accomplished if our government officials do whatever is necessary and work together to make this happen. 

It is imperative that Riverview Hospital be re-opened under the governance of BC Mental Health and Addiction Services. Re-opening Riverview can be a large part of the solution to this very serious problem which will only get worse if we don't take action now!