Treat mental health in justice system

Re: One day, we’ll factor mental illness into our justice system, June 10.

We must commend Mark Sutcliffe for his frank statements on the justice system’s treatment of those with mental illness.

The primitive treatment they receive is a shame we should all feel. Of course, there are pockets of efforts to make things better (Ottawa has an effective mental health court, for example), and many of the people working in these systems are good people who know that things are bad. But the criminalization of mental illness and the inhumane and often needless incarceration of individuals with mental illness, often solely as a result of their symptoms, is a tragedy and badly needs fixing. Our public leaders need to overhaul the system.

While some in our society might worry that too many people would be given a free ride, that’s not what a good review would arrive at. There is a role for punishment/penalties in our society and public safety is paramount, but there are also basic human rights and the Canadian value of helping those in need.

Of particular concern is the proportion of these individuals held in jails on remand awaiting their day in court, uncharged and often receiving the worst the system has to offer.

This is a human rights violation we wouldn’t tolerate elsewhere in the world.

We at CMHA Ottawa believe that it is possible to make things more humane and effective, more efficient and less costly, and more accountable. We should aim for that standard and expect nothing less. Tim Simboli, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association, Ottawa Branch