Missing man Reid Bricker felt connection to Jill Tardiff, family says

Bonnie Bricker, whose son Reid has been missing for a week, says her son identified immediately with a woman whose body was pulled from the Red River in September following her release from hospital after battling depression. 

Bonnie Bricker said Jill Tardiff worked at the school where Reid's brother went. 

• First search for missing former principal Jill Tardiff turns up nothing

"At that point, it didn't dawn on us that she was our younger son's vice-principal at Kelvin High School," Bricker said.

But it hit home with her 33-year-old son Reid.

"Reid saw the picture and read the article and he said to me, 'It's so sad that a person finally gets to the hospital, and they go 'Finally, finally somebody is going to listen, finally somebody is going to care,' and then you get let go and then you die.'"

Tardiff, 61, disappeared in September on a Monday morning. She had been released from St. Boniface Hospital the Saturday before. She had just earlier been in Seven Oaks Hospital for a month where she was being treated for severe depression.

Her body was pulled from the river on Sept 10. 

"He was very sad," Bonnie said of her son Reid. "He was sad for her family. That's what he was always saying to me, 'You know what's keeping me here, mom, is guilt. I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to hurt you and dad ... otherwise I'd be gone."

Bricker said her son has lived with severe depression, borderline-personality disorder and social anxiety for years. His family said he had struggled with suicidal thoughts over the years, and had a history of attempting to take his life. 

In the 10 days before his disappearance, Bricker had again attempted suicide twice and was admitted and discharged from three different hospitals — Seven Oaks on Oct.13, St. Boniface on Oct. 23, and Health Sciences Centre on Oct. 24 at 3:20 a.m. 

• Reid Bricker case prompts calls for changes to health privacy act

Bricker's family said they should have been notified their son was being released in the middle of the night, but current privacy laws prevent hospital staff from releasing any information without patient consent.

Province to review hospital practices, privacy rules 

Health Minister Sharon Blady says the province will review hospital protocols and laws around releasing patient information under the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) in response to Bricker's disappearance.

"Honestly, as a mom it broke my heart. It's devastating news for any family," Blady told CBC News. "I share with her the same concerns, the same frustrations and the desire to get to a solution."

Blady said she will launch discussions with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, the Bricker family, mental health organizations and advocates to review practices and legislation, identify gaps to make improvements.

"Where are the gaps that are making the difference and that are allowing someone to go out, again, while protocol is technically being followed, allowing them to go out and become even more vulnerable … at the very same moment we should really be surrounding them," Blady said.

"These conversations are starting already. I've begun to reach out to different individuals and organizations to try and see how quickly we can put this all together."

The minister said officials will also look at other jurisdictions, such as British Columbia, which allows medical staff to disclose patient information to third parties if they feel convinced a patient's safety is at risk.

Blady said she won't stop at PHIA — she wants to look at the whole picture.

"I want there to be a balance between the protection of their privacy but most importantly them getting the best care that they need," said Blady. "When someone is that vulnerable they do need their support network. They do need people who love them to know what's going on so that we can be there to help them," she said.

'Making a lot of noise' 

It's welcome news for Bonnie Bricker as the search for Reid continues.

"I'm very happy that she asked me to be a part of that change," Bonnie Bricker said, adding she plans to hold the minister to her word.

"I am probably going to be making a lot of noise … maybe if I made more noise my son would still be here today."

The family has followed up on tips from sightings at Deacon's Corner near Highway 1 east all the way to Fort Frances. So far none of the reported sightings has checked out.

His family said even though he has an attachment to the Whiteshell area he grew up camping and hiking in, there's no proof he's left the city.

The family is organizing a search beginning at The Forks at 9 a.m. Saturday.

"[When] it comes night and I crawl into my cozy bed and think, 'Where is my kid and is he alive?' We just don't know," said Bricker. 

"We need this city to mobilize and help us."