WINNIPEG — A rally this weekend to protest the move of Vince Li to a group home may have caused more harm than good according to the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society.
“The rally was not about hope,” said Chris Summerville, with the Society. “The rally was a caricature of a supposed monster who is in fact one of the nicest persons I have met in my life.”
Dozens of people gathered at the Manitoba Legislature to speak out about the increased freedom of Li.
READ MORE: Vince Li approved to live at group home in Winnipeg
He was found not criminally responsible for beheading Tim McLean on a Greyhound bus back in 2008.
The Criminal Code Review Board granted the move to a group home that will have 24 hour supervision and people who will dispense Li’s medication.
“I have no confidence he will continue to take his medication,” said Carol de Delley, McLean’s mother at the rally. “It concerns me to come downtown, it concerns me to walk downtown now.”
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says of the around 110 people found not criminally responsible, 80 per cent are living in the community. The remaining 20 per cent are receiving treatment in hospital.
Barbara Madden believes many people don’t fully understand mental illness.
She was diagnosed with schizophrenia 18 years ago.
“I thought oh my gosh that is it, my life dreams and aspirations are over,” Madden said. “It was very devastating.”
With the right help and daily medication, she got her nursing degree and has been working as a homecare nurse for more than a decade.
“It’s not my identity, having schizophrenia, I identify myself as a successful career person,” said Madden. “The average person isn’t even aware I have schizophrenia,”
She said it is scary to see a protest like the one on Saturday but feels it comes from a place of misunderstanding.
“We are people, we are your next door neighbours, coworkers and we shouldn’t be feared because we aren’t nasty people, we aren’t monsters,” said Madden.
To help debunk myths surrounding mental illness, the Schizophrenia Society is planning a forum for next week.
“There are too many people walking the streets of everyday life, good people, nice people that have horrible conceptions about people with mental illness,” Summerville said.
He plans to bring together people living with schizophrenia and doctors to have a discussion to try and ease concerns.
It is tentatively scheduled for May 20. A location is still being decided on.
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