A program pairing psychiatric nurses with RCMP officers to respond to mental health crisis calls will be coming to Prince Rupert.
On Monday, the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General announced $3 million in funding to expand the Mobile Integrated Crisis Response program, known as the Car 60 program in the Northern Health region, to nine additional communities, including Prince Rupert. The Car 60 program already operates in Prince George and Fort St. John.
“A plainclothes RCMP member and psychiatric nurse work together to help de-escalate situations, provide crisis intervention and connect people to community services and supports,” the HealthLinkBC website says. “Call the RCMP non-emergency number or dial 911 for service. Regular police members will respond to the call and refer to Car 60 when available. When Car 60 is not on duty, regular RCMP members will go to a call and refer the file to Car 60 for follow up.”
One in five interactions with police involve someone with a mental-health disorder, according to provincial data.
"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,” said Tina Baker, a psychiatric nurse with Fraser Health’s Car 67 program. “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."
Mobile Integrated Crisis Response (Car 60 or equivalent) programs are currently operating in Prince George, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, North Shore, Nanaimo and Victoria. The funding announced on Monday will expand the programs to Prince Rupert, Abbotsford, Port Coquitlam/Coquitlam, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Penticton, Vernon, Squamish and the Westshore.
“With communities now selected, health authorities and local police will begin planning together to recruit staff and put services in place as quickly as possible,” the provincial government statement issued on Monday said.
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