Hospital Suicide Attempt

The reduction of services for those with mental health problems is being blamed for an attempted suicide Tuesday morning in Penticton.

According to Charlie Wyes, the New Democrat Opposition Critic for Mental Health and Addictions, two patients were waiting in the in-patient area of the Penticton Regional Hospital for a secondary psychiatric bed and one of the patients attempted suicide.

“There are 10 beds funded at the Psychiatric Unit in Penticton, it should be staffed for 17. Two days ago, they were already at capacity, there were two individuals waiting in admissions, they finally got one in after several hours. The second individual while they were waiting, attempted suicide,” says Wyes.

He says the pressure on the hospital has been greatly increased as a result of community support services being closed, such as the Batemen House in Osoyoos.

“The mentally ill, with the reduced community supports, are being forced more and more towards the hospital,” says Wyes.

Wyse was in Penticton for a series of meetings this week and toured the hospital. He says while touring the hospital, two employees approached him and told him about the suicide attempt. He also says the Campbell government has failed the mentally ill in the Okanagan.

No further information about the patient is available, Penticton Regional Hospital Communications Spokesperson Kathy Renkas was unaware of any such incident.