Crisis Response Teams Answer 20,000 Calls Across B.C.

The Crisis Response, Community Led team (CRCL) has fielded approximately 20,000 calls for help since launching in 2023 across seven communities in British Columbia: North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Victoria, the Comox Valley, Prince George, Kamloops, and Kelowna.

The mobile teams are made up of both mental-health professionals and peer support workers who have themselves experienced crisis. All members are trained for crisis situations and can de-escalate scenarios involving mental-health challenges, substance-use concerns, or both.

"When a person is in crisis, being met with understanding and compassion can change everything," said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. The program serves anyone aged 13 and up in the communities where it operates.

Calls come from affected individuals themselves, family members who recognize their loved one is not in a normal state, or concerned community members. They may involve thoughts of suicide or self-harm, feelings of grief, distress, panic or anxiety, or behaviour that is concerning. The teams then connect people to mental-health, substance-use, and community supports.

According to a new evaluation report by the Canadian Mental Health Association BC, 98 per cent of calls CRCL received were handled without additional emergency-service involvement. While on mobile calls, less than 1 per cent of people requested emergency services be contacted. Over 56 per cent of calls were made by people seeking help for themselves; the other 43 per cent came from family, friends, bystanders, and service providers.

"Meeting someone experiencing a crisis with care and understanding can be not only life-changing, but lifesaving," said Jonny Morris, CEO of CMHA BC. "Our evaluation report shows that CRCL is an appropriate and effective response to a mental-health crisis."