A new provincial report says community-led crisis response teams have handled about 20 thousand calls across B.C. since the service launched in 2023.

“When a person is in crisis, being met with understanding and compassion can change everything,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health.

“The Crisis Response, Community Led service is an extraordinary example of how leading with empathy can foster meaningful connections to supports and services on a person’s journey to wellness.”   

The Crisis Response, Community Led program, known as CRCL, sends teams made up of mental health professionals and trained peers with lived experience to help people facing mental health or substance-use crises.

The service operates in eight communities, including the Comox Valley, and helps people who are experiencing issues such as anxiety, grief, suicidal thoughts, or substance-use challenges.

The report found nearly 57 percent of calls came directly from people seeking help for themselves, while the rest were made by family members, friends, bystanders, or service providers.

The teams provide crisis intervention, connect people with ongoing supports, and help them access services in their communities.

According to the report, emergency services were not needed in 98-percent of calls, with police, fire, or ambulance crews requested in fewer than one percent of in-person responses.

The Province says the program is helping connect people with the care they need while allowing police and emergency responders to focus on other urgent calls.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.