It took a long time to come, but mental health advocate Paul Ouellet celebrates the new Justice Minister’s commitment to establish a mental health court in Moncton.

“I am extremely happy for every person in the province of New Brunswick suffering from mental illness and addiction,” said Ouellet, a retired accountant, who spent his adult life managing the care of his three brothers and sisters with schizophrenia.

“This was long overdue.”

In an interview with Information morning in MonctonRob McKee reiterated his party’s commitment to establishing more mental health courts in the province.

“I’ve been advocating for Moncton for several years, in my role as opposition critic, and it will certainly be on the agenda to move forward with this,” McKee said.

“This needs to be done. It’s a great need in our city.”

A defendant may be referred to mental health court when a judge has reason to believe that mental illness played a key role in the alleged criminal behavior.

People who go through mental health courts are enrolled in a program, which can last up to a year, in which they work on underlying issues that may have contributed to their behavior. The support they receive may include mental health treatment, but also support from social workers regarding housing, education, unemployment and substance abuse. And incarceration could be avoided.

Mental health courts are not a new concept in New Brunswick: one has existed in Saint John since 2000, on and off.

Ouellet attended a court hearing a few years ago and was impressed.

“It was the most beautiful and enjoyable four hours of my life seeing how people admitted to the mental health court…were treated,” Ouellet said.

“Completely different from someone appearing before a judge in a regular court. Treated with respect, dignity and compassion.”

Both the Gallant and Higgs governments committed to expanding mental health courts across the province, but none were created.

“Every minister made promises to me to create a mental health court across the province… but it never came to fruition,” Ouellet said.

Mary-Ann Campbell, a professor of clinical psychology and criminal justice at UNB Saint John, said the courts have received high marks from those who have attended them.

It’s more of a parental environment, “where you even have a judge and a Crown prosecutor who care about your well-being and try to do what works best for you, to help you reduce your criminal behavior, improve your quality of life and address all your vulnerabilities,” Campbell said.

“It helps them get more involved in this process to improve risk reduction.”

Campbell said these courts do not offer more lenient punishments, but those who attend them often stay in the system longer and are more closely monitored than those who are processed through the regular system.

She also said it was important to emphasize that simply having a mental illness does not make a person predisposed to committing a crime, and studies have shown that people with mental illness are more likely to being victims of a crime.

“Total confidence” in Prime Minister

Although McKee has not set a date for the opening of the Moncton court, Ouellet said he is confident this government will be the one to extend the service.

“I have absolutely no doubt,” Ouellet said.

“I have full confidence in Premier Susan Holt and Minister Robert McKee, and you will see that happen.”

Ouellet is also confident about another long-term goal, which is for the province to appoint an official mental health advocate, which was also promised in the Liberal platform during last month’s election.

In 2019, the Legislature voted unanimously to appoint an attorney, but that never happened.

“I want my people taken care of,” said Ouellet, who has become an unofficial advocate for the many Moncton-area residents struggling to get the mental health and addiction treatment they need.

“They deserve to be taken care of. It’s not their fault they suffer from mental illness, addiction or are homeless.”