Daughter of victim tells arson inquest more resources needed for mentally ill

BURNABY, B.C. – The daughter of a B.C. woman killed in an arson two years ago says more services are needed to help mentally ill people and their families, particularly in the evenings and weekends.

A coroner’s inquest is examining what happened when 59-year-old Colette Salemink died in a fire set by her son, who was later found not responsible because of schizoaffective disorder.

Salemink’s daughter, Erica, told the inquest there aren’t enough resources available to people whose family members have mental illness, particularly outside of business hours.

Erica Salemink says there are few options other than asking the police to take a mentally ill person to the hospital, and that left her mother without meaningful help in the final weekend before the fire.

She says police officers should also be trained on what she describes as active listening, ensuring they are able to assess the complicated dynamics of family conflicts that involve mental illness.

The inquest has heard of poor communication between police and mental-health officials in the months before the fire, with neither having a full picture of Blake Salemink’s violent downward spiral.