iN NUMBERS: Stats British Columbians should know about involuntary care

Involuntary care for people with mental health and substance use problems is a hot button issue. Many people believe the province doesn’t use it enough, others think B.C. is too reliant on involuntary care under the Mental Health Act.

Here are the numbers:

• 2,000: Involuntary care beds exist in B.C. for people who are apprehended under the Mental Health Act.
• 132: Involuntary care beds are on the way in two facilities, one in Prince George and one in Surrey.
• 258: Involuntary care beds are in the Interior Health region.
• 4: Okanagan mayors and one Osoyoos Indian Band councillor recently stood in front of the Oliver Correctional Centre to advocate for using it for involuntary care.
• 20,000: People are apprehended each year under the Mental Health Act in B.C., roughly.
• 47: Per cent of Interior Health’s involuntary care cases had all of the required paperwork for the patient, the rest were missing essential documentation.
• 131: Million dollars were earmarked in the 2026 provincial budget for new investments in involuntary treatment, for people with concurrent brain injury, mental health and substance use challenges.
• 70: Hospitals around B.C. take in patients who are detained under the Mental Health Act.
• 0: Maximum limit exists for detention under the Mental Health Act so long as medical professionals review the case periodically and believe involuntary care is necessary.