Mom who lost son to suicide says legislation that will let doctors warn families 'makes all the difference'

Bonnie Bricker believes if new legislation introduced Tuesday had existed three years ago, the doctor who last saw her son alive might have had another option to stop him.

The Manitoba government's new law is intended to ensure no other person such asReid Bricker, who made three suicide attempts before he killed himself in 2015, will be releasedfrom hospital without a loved one knowing why.

Reid's fourth attempt at ending his life turned out to behis last.

"Thedoctor that saw Reidlast on that evening let him go. Don'tyou think hewould have appreciated a chance to change that decision?" askedBonnie Bricker, who lost her 33-year-old son in October 2015.

"Tosay, 'Listen, you're really not feeling goodIcan't keep you here because Idon't even have a place for you, I don't have a psychiatrist at the momentwho can talk to you.'"

Faith in hospital staff

Through the new bill, the provincial government wants to allow medical professionals to contact a patient's support network in situations where serious harm is likely to result otherwise.

The information can be communicated even whenthe patient has not grantedpermission.

The new bill would also extend to patients in apsychiatric facility, the province said in a news release.

"We are trying to strike the right balance when it comes to, obviously, our responsibility to safeguard the health information ofManitobans," Health MinisterCameronFriesen said.

"On the other side, it's that allowance that other jurisdictions [have] made to give tools to medical providers to be able to make contact withfamily members andloved ones."

The province's currentprivacy laws only permit disclosures in cases when tragedy is imminent, which Friesen said ignores the seriousness ofthreats without a timetable.

He said lowering the threshold is a "reasonable step and in some cases it may make the difference between life and death."

Igot to see film footage of him leaving the hospital, and yousee him just shrugginglike, 'Now what?'- Bonnie Bricker

Brickersaid the province is making the right choice.

"Taking out 'immediate' makes all the difference, because you can't tell me[medical professionals] aren't intelligent enough or prepared enough to see, 'Oh man, this guy is not feeling well,'" she said.

In the case of her son, she says the doctor who last saw her son had documentation that indicated he would tryto end his life again.

"This man is determined to take his life, whether it's [in] the next three minutes, next threemonths or the next threeyears,"Bonnie Bricker said.

"Igot to see film footage of him leaving the hospitaland yousee him just shrugging like, 'Now what?'"

She said she's confident that hospital staff willmake the rightcall on patient disclosurewhen they aren't worried about punishment for speaking out.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said the bill sounds a lot like what River Heights Liberal MLA Jon Gerrard has pressed the government on, with the help of Bricker.

• Bonnie Bricker calls for mental health overhaul in Manitoba

"It's good to see that it's been picked up by the government, because basically this is a Liberal bill," Lamont said.

NDPLeader Wab Kinew likes the idea behind the legislation, but questions how much it will help families in need.

"Disclosing that individual'sinformation is not necessarily going to get them the service they need," he said.

If you're experiencing suicidal thoughts or having a mental health crisis, there is help out there. Contact the Manitoba Suicide Line toll-free at 1-877-435-7170 (1-877-HELP170) or the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-688-6868.