The family of a Nanaimo man who died by suicide just 35 minutes after being released from hospital says the province\u2019s mental health act needs to change before more British Columbians die.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was released without any notification to his family,\u201d said Jesse Flowerdew\u2019s widow, Daisy Bolton, through tears at the B.C.\u2019s legislature Tuesday. \u201cThere was no call, no warning, no opportunity for us to keep him safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watch below:<\/p>\n
Flowerdew did everything right. When experiencing suicidal thoughts this April, he sought help. But minutes after being discharged from Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Flowerdew was gone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe system failed him,\u201d said Bolton.<\/p>\n
After being admitted to the psychiatric unit for two nights after expressing thoughts of self-harm, Flowerdew was deemed not a threat to himself and released. <\/p>\n
He took a cab home and died by suicide shortly after arriving.<\/p>\n
Bolton and Flowerdew\u2019s two heartbroken sisters were at B.C.\u2019s legislature on Tuesday in Victoria, calling on lawmakers to change the Mental Health Act to ensure families are included in discharge care planning.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot accept a system where someone with a known and documented risk of self harm can be released without communication to the people who love him the most,\u201d said Bolton.<\/p>\n
Currently, provincial privacy legislation prohibits health care workers from sharing information unless a patient directs them to.<\/p>\n
Flowerdew\u2019s family says that policy killed him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe should still be here today,\u201d said Bolton.<\/p>\n
In addition to implementing mandatory family\/designated contact notification for suicidal patients, Flowerdew\u2019s family is calling for stronger discharge planning requirements like ensuring the patient has safe transportation home, and that health care providers ensure the patient has scheduled follow ups. <\/p>\n
They\u2019re also calling for clearer accountability and documentation when high risk people are released from hospital. <\/p>\n
Island Health told CHEK News in a statement that their current discharge policy includes giving patients \u201cinstructions on when to seek medical care if their situation changes\u201d and \u201cconnections to follow-up care services.\u201d<\/p>\n
Waiting more than 1 year for change<\/p>\n
On April 30, 2025 B.C. Premier David Eby announced a review of the provinces\u2019 Mental Health Act<\/a>, following the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy.<\/p>\n