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| The Province of British Columbia will be pairing up RCMP and Health Care professionals as part of the introduction of the MIRC program to Prince Rupert |
A new support system is about to be introduced to the North Coast for those in mental health or substance use crisis, with the BC government announcing today the introduction of their Mobile Integrated Crisis Response program to the Prince Rupert area.
In their announcement today, the Province outlined how the program will work in Prince Rupert and the nine other communities that are included in this launch.
MICR Teams are specialized crisis-response teams that pair a police officer with a health-care professional to respond to mental-health calls made to the police.
Teams provide on-site emotional and mental-health assessments, crisis intervention and referrals to appropriate services in the community.
Built on partnerships between municipal police departments or local RCMP detachments and the regional health authorities, these teams help free up police resources to focus on crime.
Todays news from Victoria should be a well received announcement for Prince Rupert City Council.
The issues related to both mental health needs and those of substance abuse have made for some conversation around the City Council chamber in recent months, the issue one touched on briefly from a recent presentation to Council by the Head of the Prince Rupert Detachment of the RCMP, Sergeant Gerry Walker.
Jennifer Whiteside, the BC Government Minister of Mental Health and Addictions added to the background on the roll out today.
“When people are in crisis because of mental-health challenges, we want them met with compassion and appropriate care. 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 on their pathway to well-being.”
The Province has committed $3 million to help fund their implementation throughout British Columbia. 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.
No timeline was released today as to when Prince Rupert residents can anticipate seeing the first MIRC team on the streets of the city.
Northern Health added to the notes on the program today as well, their notes available here.
More on today's announcement can be reviewed here.
Notes on the work of Emergency Responders in the Northwest can be explored here.
Our archive of notes from the Legislature can be examined here.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
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