Editor:
The case of Kevin and Moirin Webster (“Gibson man ruled not criminally responsible in 2020 killing”) is both unusual and tragic. Unusual because people living with serious mental illness are much more likely to be the victims of violence, not perpetrators. Tragic because appropriate intervention could have prevented Moirin’s death. Moirin wrote to Sumac Place, a tertiary care facility where Kevin was living, expressing concerns Kevin could become violent. Staff there determined they could not handle him.
One wonders how he came to be placed at Sumac in the first place. He was involuntarily admitted to the Sechelt Hospital psychiatric ward but was released after a short time. Left homeless, Kevin went to his mother’s house. Even though she feared he could become violent, she let him stay with her. Then, two days before the fatality, Kevin went three times to the hospital but was turned away because he could not explain why he needed to see a psychiatrist. Yet surely there must have been a record of his recent admission, including the risk he presented to his family.
The health care system let Kevin down and, equally, let Moirin down. Did anyone – psychiatrist, nurse, mental health worker – take seriously her legitimate concerns regarding her son? Was this institutional neglect or another example of mother-blaming?
More needs to be done to support people with severe mental illness and their families. I hope that the relevant authorities will closely examine Kevin and Moirin’s case and put in place policies and procedures to prevent this happening again.
Dr. Lisa S. Price
Gibsons BC
