Certainly the regional treatment centres focus on the offenders who are in the most acute and serious state of their mental health illness, to the point that they can be certified under provincial mental health legislation. The challenge is that it is a significant portion of the inmate population. Certainly there is an even larger population that suffers from mental illness that does not meet those criteria. For example, they are not out of touch with reality, but they may have serious anxiety disorders. They may be dealing with depression. They may be dealing with suicidal ideation but are not being suicidal at the immediate time. The treatment centre just tries to target the most acute ones and tries to stabilize them so they can return them to their home institutions.
On June 2nd, 2009. See this statement in context.