Before managing a loved one in psychosis, but deemed not dangerous by the system, families tell the Duty their distress. They denounce a system which leaves them alone and helpless, sometimes to the drama. Experts are demanding a reform of laws to better treat these people and lighten medical confidentiality.
For 25 years now, Nathan has been suffering from schizophrenia. His father, Mauritius, and his sister, Nathalie, must deal with her illness, and in particular with his psychotic episodes. We have chosen to silence Nathan’s real first name so as not to prejudice him.
For Maurice and Nathalie, talking publicly about their situation is a last resort. They have tried many times to get help in order to have Nathan treating. They hit in vain at the door of hospitals, police services, courts, and even elected officials. They fear more than anything that it comes to commit the irreparable.
When he does not take his drugs (which is the case most of the time), Nathan lost contact with reality, has delusional ideas, is convinced to be monitored and listened to. He suspects that microphones and cameras are hidden everywhere – in the walls, and even in his own glasses.
Over the years, worrying incidents have succeeded. “He called my father to say that there were spies or armed people on the roof of the building. My father spent nights stationed in front of his home; There was nothing. He broke his glasses because he saw microphones. He smashed walls with his head because he wanted to find hidden cameras, ”says Nathalie.
“His delusions have increased over time. And there was an episode where, in full psychosis, he took a large kitchen knife and came out on the balcony, shouting: “You will see what I am able to do”, “she says.
Despite repeated calls for the police, Nathan’s family failed to have him hospitalized. Not even when, in the spring of 2021, Maurice received a message saying to him: “I’m going to shoot you”. The complaint was not retained, because the verb “shooting” was not combined and Nathan held a delusional speech – the police did not consider the message as a threat, recalls Nathalie, still visibly in shock.
released with conditions, then without
In December 2022, Nathan was recognized not criminally responsible for public misdeeds committed while he lived in the street – he had made repeated calls at 911, falsely indicating that a person’s life was at risk. It is therefore placed under the supervision of the Mental Disability Review Commission (CETM), a division of the Quebec Administrative Court.
The EC is responsible for determining whether a person represents, due to their mental state, a significant risk for public security. She therefore decides if the person will be “owned” in a hospital in order to receive psychiatric care or if he will be released (with or without conditions). This is the second option that is retained for Nathan. The Commission releases it on condition, in particular, that it complies with the recommendations of its treating team and that it refrains from consuming any drugs, since it “presents a significant risk for public safety, but that this risk can be low as long as it continues treatment”.
-His family learned that a few weeks ago that Nathan had been watched by CETM. In retrospective, his father believes that this is the period during which his son was the most stable in the past 25 years. Except that after a year, Nathan is released without conditions. “No matter the dosage [de médicaments]he had at least one monthly base which was assured, due to his parole. But the day when it turns into “unconditional”, we lose control, ”deplores Maurice.
Reading the decision on the release of Nathan, his father judges that “someone escaped him”, because the end of the taxation of liberation conditions had heavy consequences. “We cannot force it [à se soigner]but if he had followed, maybe he still would have his job, his room and his accommodation. There he lost everything. We will start again to zero. »»
Families without tools
It only took six months for Nathan to once again drew disturbing remarks on Facebook: last October, he invites people to get armed with baseball sticks at a real address in order to recover the effects that he believes that he was stolen. The police then apply the P-38 law, which allows them to hospitalize a person against his will if his mental state presents a danger for himself or for others. “While the police had not yet left the hospital, he contacted me via Messenger to tell me to say goodbye to my 2 and a half year old boy,” said his sister, who fears for his safety.
Nathalie then accompanied her father to the courthouse to testify before the judge who is called upon to rule on the request made by the hospital in order to treat Nathan against her will. The two want to make their concerns known and convince the magistrate of the need for this care. Unpleasant surprise: although a psychiatric assessment advocates a 28 -day legal guard, the judge orders one of 14 days only. “Lawyers agreed without even having us testifying! Our opinion was thrown in the trash, ”says Nathalie, indignant. Lawyers explain that they had done this to give Nathan a chance to keep his job and his accommodation.
Lawyers agreed without even being testified! Our opinion was thrown in the trash.
A few weeks later, Nathan recovered published messy messages on social networks. He is now without roof and without work, and his family is more worried than ever. Nathalie tries in vain to get in touch with her brother’s psychiatrist, as well as with a nurse, to let them know that Nathan is not doing well. It is not recalled.
“Is the only solution that he commits an offense?” Maybe. But again there, I have the impression that it will never be big enough for us to get it into the system! We would like that there is not a second drama like that of the Police of Louiseville – because we, we recognize our history in their history “, claims Nathalie, referring to the death of the Maureen Breau agent, occurred in March 2023.” I do not think that it is normal that, in 2025, there is no one who takes us seriously. »»
“One day, there will happen a drama,” says Maurice. We are fighting for the year to give him good care, try to rehabilitate him. The system does not want to take care of these people. This is a social problem, but it is re -stated in the family courtyard, and they have no tools. »»
