System will evolve after release of Nick Lang report, says minister

B.C.'s Minister of Children and Family Development said the ministry is working to make changes to its mental health support system after the provincial representative for children and youth released a report on the death of 15-year-old Nick Lang yesterday.

This is the fourth review into the teenager's death. Lang died on June 9, 2015 just six days after entering provincial care, where he was receiving treatment for his methamphetamine addiction.

The report said if proper supports had been in place, Lang may not have ended up in the residential facility where he died.

It advocated for a comprehensive mental health program with culturally specific services to meet the needs of youth.

Minister Stephanie Cadieux said her department is hard at work making changes to address gaps in the system, and pointed out the premier had appointed a working group. 

"The cabinet working group is looking at the entire mental health substance use system, to see where the gaps are and what we'd need to do to improve the way the system works and what we need to do fill the gaps," she said.

Cadieux said she had already implemented certain changes recommended by an internal review of Lang's death including improving information gathering, and increasing training for host families.

"We're doing our absolute best we can as a system to make the investments ... where they're needed," she said.

Secure care

Peter Lang, Nick's father, said getting Nick into provincial care was extremely difficult.

One problem he encountered was that most of the province's rehab and drug addiction programs require the voluntary consent of the youth in question, unless a judge or medical doctor makes an order.

When Nick entered the youth criminal system, Lang said his son's court-appointed lawyer and probation officer told him to plead guilty so he could get a court-imposed condition to attend treatment.

"If you need help in this province, it's really unfortunate that you had to criminalize your own son in order to really get medical treatment is what it was," Lang said.

Advocates are asking B.C. to adopt secure care — a law allowing youth to be involuntarily placed in a facility for their safety.

B.C.'s representative for children and youth have already called for such legislation, and advocates have argued other provinces have similar laws.

However, Cadieux said not everyone is in favour of such a law.

"We'd have to have a great deal of conversations — especially with our First Nations community — who don't welcome the idea of involuntary commitment," she said.

Nevertheless, Cadieux said she is looking at the effectiveness of those programs.

With files from The Early Edition

To listen to the interview, click on the link labelled Minister Stephanie Cadieux responds to report on Nick Lang