Content warning: The following story deals with the subject of suicide. If you or a loved one is at risk of self-harm, call Crisis Centre BC at 988. Translation services are available.
Crisis Centre BC is welcoming a report that supports integrating the province’s 911 system and mental health crisis lines.
In September, the B.C. government published an independent review of E-Comm-911, noting that the service provider has been collaborating with the crisis centre.
Operators are now asking the provincial government to come up with funding to support further integration.
Crisis Centre BC Director of Development and Communications Jeffrey Preiss says the idea is to make a fourth option for callers outside police, fire, and ambulance services.
“We believe, fundamentally, that every British Columbian should have access to mental health, crisis care, or suicide prevention when they need it. Right now, people have to remember multiple numbers across the province to access that care,” Preiss explained.
“Integrating us as the fourth option to 911, we’ll actually streamline that process to make sure that anybody in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, we’ll be able to access that least costly, least restrictive care as soon as possible.”
Currently, he says E-Comm is only able to dispatch police to callers who indicate they’re having a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide.
“And so we’re trying to add the mental health crisis lines — that are already established in the province, that already have protocols to work with 911 — should there be an escalation, directly right at the front line. So that folks in crisis can first be deescalated over the phone lines, and if mobile crisis response teams or police are needed, we can then dispatch them.”
The centre is urging the province to develop sustainable funding models for integration, creating a “continuum of care” for people in crisis.
“B.C. has the opportunity to lead the country,” stated Executive Director Stacy Ashton.
“By establishing mental health and suicide response as the fourth option within 911, we can place compassion and connection at the heart of public safety. This will put our province at the forefront of mental health crisis response in Canada.”
Preiss says Crisis Centre BC looks forward to deepening its relationship with E-Comm and other 911 services across the province.
1130 NewsRadio has reached out to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General for comment.