Scrap new hospital security measures

Re: Mental unit patients to be subject to metal detectors after stabbing at Windsor Regional Hospital, by Dalson Chen, Sept. 8.

As a person who advocates for the rights of persons with mental illness as my day job, I was disappointed with the new measures undertaken by Windsor Regional Hospital.

First, to my knowledge, was a single incident and there was no history of violent acts committed by persons on day passes.

The hospital had a real opportunity to use this incident to discuss common, erroneous fears around mental health. Persons with mental illness are, in fact, more likely to be victims of violence than commit it.

When reactionary measures like this are taken, it sends a message to people (who are already made nervous by the images and messaging the entertainment industry and media projects about mental health) that they are right in their concern — and the stigma not only continues but grows.

If there has only been one known incident in all these years, the cost and the optics are simply not worth this.

Secondly, I have concerns about the confidentiality of this process and the feelings of criminality and demoralization the patients will feel. From what I have seen of the plan in the media, there is seemingly little possibility that this will be a completely private process.

The question of day passes and how eligibility is deemed may need to be reviewed. Then do that. Let’s not make every person returning from a day pass be viewed as a potential threat.

Lastly, and most importantly, had these security measures been in place, they would not in any way have prevented what happened. The attack was in an area where the attacker would not have been “wanded” prior to entering.

And really, anything can be used as a weapon when the intent to hurt someone is there. These measures feel like they are more about appeasement than security. Leigh Vachon, executive director, Victoria Manor Supportive Housing, Windsor