Bipolar man on verge of deportation to a country he left as a baby — 57 years ago

[OnlinePoker]

Source: The Province

A 57-year-old man who immigrated to Canada as a baby is on the verge of being deported from the only country he’s known because of a string of crimes triggered by severe mental illness.

Len Van Heest — diagnosed with bipolar disorder in British Columbia at age 16 — is just the latest, dramatic example of a growing trend, say some immigration lawyers.

Increasing numbers of adult immigrants who came here as small children and developed psychiatric or neurological conditions now face removal after the previous government toughened the law on non-citizen criminals, they say.

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/health/bipolar+verge+deportation+country+left+baby+years/11603796/story.html

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Another legacy of the Harper government. It will take a long time to undo all the wrongs that man did.

[KamaAina]

1. Could not Canada's vaunted health care system have intervened?

Or is it just as skimpy when it comes to mental illness as ours?

[Android3.14]

2. It is for citizens

All others must pay.

[KamaAina]

3. Even landed immigrants?

[Android3.14]

5. I don't know.

[Fiendish Thingy]

9. Permanent residents are eligible for MSP after 90 days

But at least in BC, mental health resources are more limited than medical services.

[Wibly]

7. Not Quite

The man's treatment, in emergencies, was covered.
The problem arose when the spectacularly stupid government we've had for the past 10 years cuts mental health services, resulting in staff shortages which allowed this fellow to slip through the cracks. Failure to follow up is the problem. It has little to do with our health care system per se.

[trillion]

20. I'll bet that guy has paid taxes for decades.

[OnlinePoker]

4. Definitely a low point in the system

During the late 70s, (in B.C., at least) the push was on to deinstitutionalize mental health patients. They were sent into communities that had little support structures available to handle them. Health care is a provinicial responsibility but any cost savings from closing down central facilities were eaten up as more mental health professionals, if they could be found, were needed to spread around the province. Eventually, there just wasn't any extra money to go around. The burden has fallen to already cash-strapped community health agencies. Add to this the fact that it is nearly impossible to get someone forcibly committed to any facility for treatment (a young teen checked herself out a couple of years ago over her parent's objections and then committed suicide) and people fall through the cracks.

[dembotoz]

18. in theory it was so good in reality it was soo bad

we did the same damn thing

turns out it was way easier not to fund community options than it was to defund the big mental hospitals

it would have worked it should have worked but alas the level of assholes in politics is always underestimated

[McCamy Taylor]

6. What does the Netherlands have to say about this patient dump?

[Wibly]

8. They'll accept

He would be accepted and treated in Holland.
However, he's lived his whole life in Canada. He has no connection to Holland other than the fact he was born there, and does not speak the language.
Holland is very civilized. Canada used to be, and we are slowly coming back.

[OregonBlue]

11. The reality is that almost all Dutch speak English. They are a very sophisticated

society and I suspect, he will actually get much better treatment in Holland than he ever got in Canada.

[keithbvadu2]

10. "neglected to become a Canadian citizen"

He has had plenty of time as an adult to do just that.

Don't blame the gov't for his own choices.

[haele]

12. For most people, that wouldn't be an issue - for a bipolar, though...

People don't understand how hard it is for people with mental illnesses to follow through, especially when it comes to long-term activities that have time limits associated with them, like gaining citizenship. Especially since the perception of what someone with a mental illness is supposed to be like has very little to do with what the reality for those with mental illness is.

Living with two bi-polars, (one who is being treated and one who also has PTSD and still refuses treatment because "there's nothing wrong - it's everyone else's fault&quot , it's been made very obvious to me that appearance of personal capability does not equal consistent functionality.
And believe me, both people are constantly miserable because they don't want to "be lazy", or be incapable of following through, or not know when the mood swings will occur and they either feel they're "Superman" or the lowest worm and should just crawl into a corner and shut out the world for a day, week - or several months. Along with the associated health risks that people with mental illnesses have on top of the illnesses - Sleep Apnea, cardio/pulmonary/vascular issues, gastro-intestinal problems, immune system disorders, diabetes...

It's often been expressed to me that both would give anything to have the life I have now, even with the constant physical and mental stress of having to anticipate and deal with both my situational issues and theirs, because they can't follow through, or get themselves into trouble. I'm functional and follow through. They just can't seem to organize themselves enough that they can make it through stressful activities and not trigger a swing during the process.

Bi-polars often need to be sheparded through life - which is not the same as infantilizing them. The bi-polars in my life can make plans and get things done; they just require a safety net and support system to make it across the periods where something in their mind decides to short-circuit on them without warning.

On edit - the man in the OP probably never "neglected" to become a Canadian citizen in the sense that we know it. He probably started several times. Being bi-polar, he also probably has a problem with deadlines and organization, so he never completed the process.

Haele

[keithbvadu2]

13. Usually I might agree with you, but...

"He has a lengthy criminal record — usually racked up when he goes off his treatment "

"usually racked up when he goes off his treatment "

His choice.

[Gormy Cuss]

14. His "choice" was informed by his bipolar disorder.

Note that word "usually." Perhaps that's a subtle clue that even when following the prescribed treatment his disorder is only suppressed partially.
IOW, his illness informs his behavior even with meds.

[keithbvadu2]

17. "even when following the prescribed treatment his disorder is only suppressed partially"

Then, if not deportation, there are only two choices to protect society.

Treatment which he repeatedly stops on his own.

Incarceration

[darkangel218]

15. As a first generation immigrant, who has lived here more years than in my native country,

I can say that this is a bunch of BS and so messed up.

[darkangel218]

16. Advice for the green card holders! Both here and in Canada

NATURALIZE, IF POSSIBLE!!

You won't be safe otherwise.

[trillion]

19. If you go to the story the comments are just as despicable as the Canadian gov deporting the guy.

[christx30]

21. I don't think the Canadians are being despicable

at all. He is 57 years old. He could have naturalized at any time. He was getting treatment for his illness, but he chose not to keep up with it. His family also wasn't doing anything to help him or force him to take his meds, which would have kept him lucid enough to complete the application process to become naturalized.
He has convictions for threatening people, including threatening people with a weapon. How long before he actually harms someone in one of his agitated and hostile states? Would have compassion you are displaying carry over if it were a family member of yours that he harms? Why didn't his family help him all this time? Or gotten help for him? I hear Canada's health care system is great.
It sucks what's happening to him, but really there aren't any real alternatives. Involuntary institutionalization, prison, deportation, or just wait until he beats someone to death over some beef jerky one day.