Chilliwack and Abbotsford are two of nine new B.C. communities getting crisis-response teams as part of a $3 million expansion of the in-demand program.
“Mobile integrated crisis-response teams” are rolling out in their communities with police officers and health-care professionals working in tandem to address crisis calls.
“The goal of these teams is to resolve the mental health crisis and those situations collaboratively and in a trauma-informed way,” said Jennifer Whiteside, minister of mental health and addictions at the announcement Monday (July 17) in Chilliwack.
“We are expanding crisis-response teams across the province to ensure that at their most vulnerable time, people in distress in our communities receive a health-focused response and connections to the services and supports they need,” the minister said.
Crisis-response teams are also coming to Port Coquitlam/Coquitlam, Burnaby, Penticton, Vernon, Squamish, Prince Rupert and the Westshore, in addition to Chilliwack and Abbotsford.
The minister said the province heard from partners, and those with lived experience, that “to know better is to do better” and to recognize that a “law enforcement approach doesn’t work for everyone or in all situations.”
What does a team upon arrival during a mental-health episode? Anything from verbal de-escalation, involving friends or family to support the person in crisis, to referral to other appropriate health providers, all while maintaining safety on-scene.
Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove said the team announced for Chilliwack is “welcome news,” and a “bold” move by the province to “aggressively” take on these challenges.
“Chilliwack has been advocating for this type of service for a few years now, he said.
“It falls in line with our community action plan and mental-health efforts.”
The idea is to free up police to focus on crime, dispatching an officer with a health-care expert to respond to police calls with on-site emotional and mental-health assessments, crisis intervention and referrals to appropriate services in the community.
“We have heard from many police departments and health authorities that currently run Mobile Integrated Crisis Response Teams that the programs are extremely helpful - and demand is growing,” said Mike Farnworth, minister of public safety and solicitor general.
Expanding these response teams to more communities will help connect “more people in crisis” with the the types of supports and services they need.
With communities now poised to get the mobile crisis response teams set up, health authorities and local police will begin planning together to recruit staff and put services in place as quickly as possible.
Tina Baker, registered psychiatric nurse with the Car 67 program said these partnerships between nurses and police officers “are so beneficial to clients during crises because we get to bring our specialized mental-health assessment skills and knowledge right to them.
“We can give 100 per cent of our care and attention to the client, knowing that police are there to keep us and clients safe. I am thrilled more communities will soon have this program.”
The nurse or health care worker provides on-site emotional and mental health assessments, crisis intervention and referrals to appropriate services in the community, while the police officer looks after any safety concerns and makes sure everyone is safe.
Regions with existing teams:
Vancouver Coastal Health: Vancouver (Car 87/88), North Shore (Car 22), Richmond (Fox 80)
Fraser Health: Surrey (Car 67)
Interior Health: Kamloops, Kelowna (Integrated Crisis Response Teams – formerly known as Car 40 in Kamloops and Police and Crisis Team in Kelowna)
Northern Health: Prince George and Fort St. John (Car 60)
Island Health: Victoria (Co-Response Team) and Nanaimo (Car 54).
RELATED: Chilliwack advocating for crisis team
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