Letter to the Editor
St. Thomas Times Journal
May 11, 2007
Mental Health Act does not provide for arrests
Editor:
RE: “Rodney man arrested, but no charges laid” (Times Journal, May 7).
Your article is misleading and inaccurate as there are no provisions in the Mental Health Act for arresting individuals and it gives the false impression that criminal activity has taken place.
The law does say that police “may take the person in custody to an appropriate place of examination and where practicable the place shall be a psychiatric facility or other health facility.”
Language is powerful and can perpetuate stigma.
Watching our language is the first step in reducing and eliminating discrimination.
If we are to support individuals with mental illness in their quest for wellness and recovery then we must, as a community, be supportive, understanding and accepting.
David Simpson
Acting Director
Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office
Toronto
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