The bus driver arrested following Wednesday’s tragedy at a Laval daycare center had not sought mental health support from local public services, Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant said Thursday.
The Minister’s press attaché, Lambert Drainville, specified that the verifications had been made at the Laval Integrated Health and Social Services Center as well as throughout the public network. He was unable to clarify the situation for private consulting services.
Société de transport de Laval driver Pierre Ny St-Amand was arrested on Wednesday after the bus he was driving crashed into a daycare centre, killing two children. Nine counts were filed against him, two of first degree murder, one of attempted murder, two of aggravated assault and four of assault. He is due back in court on February 17.
A doctor at the hospital where he was admitted asked that the accused be transferred to a psychiatric wing because of his “dangerousness”, lawyers in charge of the case reported on Wednesday.
“The event that happened yesterday was unpredictable. Whether it was someone who was unhappy or in distress, something happened to explain that,” Minister Carmant said.
Mr Carmant said the government set up a program in November 2020 to try to reach people who do not seek help when they suffer from mental health problems.
“Now, what we want to do is go a little further and screen for mental health problems,” explained the minister.
Psychological help for those affected
Came to lay flowers and meet families shaken in front of the scene of the tragedy, Thursday noon, Prime Minister François Legault for his part affirmed that his priority was to offer psychological help to people who were affected, near or from afar.
“Even the kids who are okay, but who’ve seen this, the employees who have seen this, probably these are images they’re going to carry around in their minds all their lives. So accept psychological help, it’s necessary, it’s normal to need this help, ”said the Prime Minister. He recalled that a command post has been set up by the Service de police de Laval (SPL) to offer support to the Laval population. Mr. Legault also invited anyone who feels the need to call 811, where psychosocial advice is given.
Geneviève Berthiaume-Gagnon, whose daughter was in daycare during the incident, said she was reassured by the words of François Legault. She and her spouse, Bruno Belzile, are relieved to be able to count on psychological help.
“At home, we just make people cry. We are not functional at all. I always think of the families who are suffering right now. We were lucky that our daughter was not in the affected group that morning, but safe in another,” said the mother of the family.
Gathering in front of the daycare
Mme Berthiaume-Gagnon and Mr. Belzile had come to drop off a stuffed animal in front of the daycare, in the name of their three daughters. The couple are now wondering how they will find the words to tell their children that one of their friends has died and another had to be hospitalized.
It was time for meditation and solidarity in front of the daycare, which was partially boarded up. The three leaders of the opposition parties, federal ministers, the mayor of Laval and the director of the SPL were notably present.
“If there’s a day when we have to show that all of Quebec is behind those who experienced this terrible tragedy, it’s today,” said Mr. Legault.
The police investigation at the scene of the tragedy ended on Wednesday evening, and the bus was removed from the scene, confirmed the spokeswoman for the SPL, Erika Landry.
A candlelight vigil was to take place Thursday evening at the Sainte-Rose-de-Lima church, in the Sainte-Rose district, in which the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, was to participate.
With The Canadian Press