Costas Halavrezos interviews the executive director of the SSNS

From the November 19th edition of CBC Radio's Maritime Noon:

Donnie Harvey is from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. His family tried to get him help for what they believed were his psychotic episodes, but couldn't - until he threatened his mother with a knife, and she involved the police.

Since 2007, psychiatrists in Nova Scotia have had a tool that could prevent such attacks. It's called the Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act. It allows mental health professionals to force someone into treatment if they determine the person is a danger to others or themselves.

Stephen Ayer [pictured] is the executive director of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia and he says it's a powerful tool that isn't being consistently used, and that endangers many families.

To listen to Costas Halavrezos interview Stephen Ayer, click here (RealPlayer).

Photograph by Denton Conrad.