Mental-health advocate Dr. Nancy Hall dies at Vancouver General Hospital
The former provincial mental-health advocate, Dr. Nancy Hall, has passed away at the age of 60.
Hall had metastatic breast cancer for two years leading up to her death, which occurred peacefully today at Vancouver General Hospital.
Last year, she won the C.M. Hincks Award from the Canadian Mental Health Association for her contributions to mental health.
From 2004 to 2010, she was part of SFU's Future Dialogue: Imagine B.C. initiative, for which she prepared a paper on mental health.
She also assisted the Street to Home Foundation on a five-year plan to end homelessness.
But Hall is perhaps best known for her work as the mental-health advocate for the province from 1998 to 2001. In this role, she frequently spoke up on behalf of families.
The B.C. Liberal government eliminated Hall's position after winning the 2001 election.
In an interview with the Georgia Straight last November, Hall criticized a new 10-year provincial mental-health plan for lacking any financial specifics.
"It's not clear where the money is coming from," she said at the time. "They say they're spending more, but it doesn't tell you what they've cut."
She also noted that the provincial mental-health plan "totally ignored cargivers", as well as the toll that mental-health problems create for families.
"We have to be mindful of that," Hall stated. "People are just at the end of their rope; they're not able to function. Families are reshaping their lives and they're not supported."
Comments
8 Comments
Paul Gallant
Mar 25, 2011 at 9:47am
Nancy was a brilliant and fun human being, advocate and colleague who I only began to get to know recently. Nancy will be sadly missed by her family, friends and the entire mental health community. My sincere condolences to all who were touched by Nancy's great passion for life and her commitment to mental wellness for all.
Kelvin Chan
Mar 26, 2011 at 3:40am
I had the good fortune of having Nancy as a teacher/mentor last year and helped me produce a reflective piece for dialogue projects. Her passion and commitment to mental health policies in BC have contributed greatly to shaping and identifying the fallacies in the delivery of health services. I am greatly moved by the kindness and the level of interest she had shown towards my personal wellbeing. Nancy will be greatly missed.
Donaleen Saul
Mar 26, 2011 at 1:05pm
Nancy Hall's death is a great loss to public life locally and nationally. Her wisdom, humanity and intelligence will be sorely missed. My condolences to all who love her and to all who have benefited from her advocacy for healthy public policy on mental health.
Hugh L Millar
Mar 26, 2011 at 7:09pm
Nancy was a colleague in the early 1990's with whom I worked on seniors' wellness programs. She was tireless, smart and had a commitment that made her a champion of everything that she put her mind to. I am so sad to hear of her passing and I lament her family's and the community's loss of such a vibrant person.
PSWA Canada
Mar 27, 2011 at 2:47am
BC must create an Office of The Mental Health Advocate. Nancy Hall got people talking about mental health, raised awareness, and as a result the BC liberals removed the position of the BC Mental Health Advocate, now that speaks volumes about the liberals position on mental health!
I am director of Pacific South Western Advocates in Victoria, BC. We have been advocating for changes to the apprehension policies BC MHA Sec. 28(1) since 2001. Some BC municipal police provide only verbal subjective reports to medical staff when police take citizens to hospital against their will for mental health assessments. Some police provide written objective reports, so there is no reason why all police in BC can't provide written reports. The triage scale is another issue. Because of certain questionable detentions and committals, we speak out. Nancy Hall will be well remembered by many and truly missed. Gordon W. Stewart
Jeremy Tate
Mar 31, 2011 at 8:07am
Had the pleasure of working with Nancy over the years. A smart, caring , honest , hard working person always looking after the underdogs. She had so much yet to give and will be greatly missed.
Margaret Taddei
Apr 7, 2011 at 8:14pm
There needs to be established hospital admissions procedures for people with mental health issues. These guidelines would be in place for police, friends, relatives, and hospital staff to follow.. A committee should work on this. John Bandura, the man who seriously injured the Kamloops bishop was brought to two lower mainland hospitals and was not accepted. In desperation he was driven to Kamloops where he had been admitted three years earlier. I wonder what screening took place at the lower mainland hospitals? Would it be possible for a person to designate someone (relative or friend) as trusted to make the decision about hospital admission should the need arise? This
statement could somehow be on file.
PSWA Canada, Victoria, BC
Apr 27, 2011 at 8:10pm
Margret Taddel Those with non-treatable mental health issues will usually be refused treatment. Our federal government needs to walk into hospitals/institutions and assess who is being treated and who is being refused treatment, the results may be shocking for us all!