The two young women, who have struggled with mental health issues since their early teens, created a Facebook group in late February to raise concerns about the way patients are treated at Royal Jubilee Hospital’s Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES).
The group, called PES: A Pathetic Excuse for Support, now has 1,800 members and more than 200 stories from former patients. It attracted the attention of Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, who raised the issue of emergency mental health in the legislature.
Hale and Epp have since met with Premier John Horgan and Sheila Malcolmson, minister of mental health and addictions, telling them that patients don’t get the care and support they need and are belittled and mocked at PES. People seeking help are often discharged a couple of hours later feeling worse and having experienced more trauma.