The Stream

Canadians want to #HelpLily after hospital turns away teen in mental health crisis

Twitter reacts after mentally-disabled Nova Scotian teenager was arrested.

Alarms were raised by Canadians on Twitter after a teenager was initially turned away by a Halifax hospital and arrested during a mental health crisis. The story of 14-year-old Lily promoted calls to revamp Nova Scotia’s mental health system.

Lily, who has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, was transported by ambulance to IWK emergency department on Sunday after she became aggressive. Doctors reportedly told Lily’s mother her behavioural problems weren’t for the hospital to deal with. When Lily became disruptive and refused to leave, the hospital called the police who arrested her. Lily was finally admitted to IWK the next day after police determined she posed a danger to herself.

Social media learned of the incident through series of tweets from a family friend