The Vancouver Island Health Authority is in the final stages of creating a 24-7 on-call acute care psychiatry team at Victoria General Hospital, thanks in part to a Victoria familyB次元官网网址檚 petition that has garnered more than 27,000 signatures.

, Kelly and Owen Bradley publicly aired their frustration towards VIHA for refusing to admit their 11-year-old daughter, who suffers from bipolar distorder, to Victoria General Hospital in January.

After a 19-day wait, their daughter was finally admitted to Ledger House in Saanich, the IslandB次元官网网址檚 only child and adolescent mental health facility with 13 beds.

B次元官网网址淲e do recognize the need to enhance and expand our services in this area,B次元官网网址� said Dr. Richard Crowe, VIHAB次元官网网址檚 executive medical director of mental health and addiction services.

Crowe said heB次元官网网址檚 seen roughly 20 per cent more youth and children presenting at local hospitals for mental health services compared to a few years ago.

VIHA plans to spend an additional $900,000 on child and adolescent psychiatrists this year, including two new full-time positions for Greater Victoria.

VGH has also extended weekend hours of its mental health crisis nurses, while its collaborative psychiatry team will include both child/adolescent and adult psychiatrists to provide full coverage, Crowe said.

There are currently seven VIHA-employed psychiatrists in the Victoria area, but most are part-time and do not specialize in acute care, he added.

B次元官网网址淭his is the case for all of the health care authorities across Canada B次元官网网址� there are simply not enough child psychiatrists,B次元官网网址� Crowe said.

Kelly Bradley admitted the long-term solutions arenB次元官网网址檛 easy, but said acute care is just a piece of the puzzle.

She plans to deliver her familyB次元官网网址檚 petition to B.C. Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid in the coming weeks.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just so grateful this is coming out,B次元官网网址� Bradley said. B次元官网网址淪ome people will deny thereB次元官网网址檚 a problem. But so many people have experienced almost everything we have.B次元官网网址�

To view the BradleyB次元官网网址檚 petition, visit chn.ge/11lGrFJ.

dpalmer@vicnews.com