British Columbia’s government has introduced proposed amendments to the Mental Health Act aimed at strengthening involuntary care and improving legal protections for health-care professionals who treat patients unable to make decisions for themselves.
Premier David Eby said the update reflects a commitment to step in “with compassion and care” when individuals are too ill to make safe choices. The goal, he said, is to create a more responsive and coordinated mental health system that prevents patients from “falling through the cracks.”
If approved, the revisions would repeal Section 31(1) of the Act and replace it with a modernized liability-protection clause under Section 16. The change clarifies legal protections for front-line workers providing treatment to involuntary patients under the supervision of psychiatric professionals, reducing confusion caused by the original language, which has been in place for over 40 years.
Health Minister Josie Osborne said the move will ensure timely treatment for people facing severe mental illness or concurrent substance-use disorders, emphasizing the importance of clear legal authority in situations where patients cannot seek care voluntarily.
Currently, British Columbia has more than 2,000 mental-health inpatient beds capable of providing involuntary care. The province is expanding capacity, with new facilities opened in 2025 at Surrey Pretrial Services Centre and Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge, and additional projects underway in Surrey and Prince George to deliver both voluntary and involuntary mental health inpatient care.
Dr. Daniel Vigo, B.C.’s chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs, and concurrent disorders, noted that the strengthened legislation supports evidence-based interventions that can prevent long-term harm. He said additional updates related to the care of children and youth are forthcoming.
The proposed amendments are part of a broader effort to build a seamless continuum of mental health and substance-use services. Since 2017, the province has added more than 760 new treatment beds, bringing the total to over 3,700. Other initiatives include the opioid treatment access line, Road to Recovery program, Foundry youth centers, First Nations healing facilities, and supportive housing developments across B.C.
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