Local MLAs joined officials from Northern Health and the RCMP on Friday to put the spotlight on a trio of new programs now up and running to provide better support for the mentally ill - whether they're in the hospital, on the street or at home.
Psychiatric liaison nurses are now working in the emergency department at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. to help physicians and staff by quickly assessing a patient and determine the best supports - either community based programs or in-patient care.
As well, Car 60 - comprised of a plain clothes RCMP officer and a psychiatric nurse - is now out on the road responding to calls involving people with mental health issues, often a big portion of the RCMP's workload.
And two intensive case management teams, each made up of a mental health and addiction clinician, a nurse and a life skills worker are providing followup support.
The programs, which have been operating for roughly the past two months, also apply to those with substance use concerns.
"Mental illness and substance use affects people from all walks of life in every community, in every province, in every country," Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond said during a media event at UHNBC. "And that's why we believe we simply cannot turn our backs on those in our community who need our help."
The programs are part of a $20-million commitment province-wide over 2014-15 by the B.C. Ministry to the issue, Bond said.
Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris, who was a Mountie for 32 years before entering politics, said people with mental health challenges and addictions occupy a majority of a police officer's time and called the programs a "long-needed step."
"But it's only one step of many that I think we're going to take over the next number of years to ensure that the vulnerable citizens that we have throughout British Columbia are protected to the extent that we can," Morris said.
Over the two months it's been on the road, the Car 60 program has responded to about 140 calls.
Prince George RCMP Cst. Sonja Blom, one of two officers assigned to the program, said mental health clients and community agencies are now calling for Car 60 by name.
"While the program is still in its infancy in Prince George, we're already seeing the benefits for those involved, including the mental health clients, Northern Health and the RCMP," Blom said.
Car 60 is modeled on similar programs that have been established in Kamloops, Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Both the integrated case management teams and Car 60 are available seven days a week for nine hours each day, from noon to 9 p.m., and the emergency room has a psychiatric nurse from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Aaron Bond, Northern Health director of mental health and addictions for the Interior region, said the hours were picked based on statistical analysis that showed when the need is most prevalent for the funding that's available.
"And going forward, we'll evaluate it," Bond said. "Is it the right times? Is it what the community needs?"
