New ‘MICR’ mental health car program launches in Burnaby

Burnaby

2023-11-24 10:18 PST

The Burnaby RCMP is pleased to have its new Mobile Integrated Crisis Response (MICR) mental health car program up and running as of Monday, November 6, 2023, in partnership with Fraser Health and the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.

In Burnaby, the MICR program pairs police officers with Fraser Health mental health nurses, enhancing the ability to respond to calls involving individuals in need of mental health or substance use crisis intervention or assistance. Teams also provide referrals to help people access appropriate services.

The program is designed to complement work already being done by Burnaby RCMP frontline members and the detachment’s Police Mental Health and Homelessness Outreach Team, which is continuing its proactive outreach work.

Learn more about the program at this link: Four Mobile Integrated Crisis Response Teams hit the streets in local Lower Mainland Communities

Burnaby’s MICR team works 7 days a week, between 10 am and 10 pm.

By pairing police with health care professionals when responding to calls, we are able to enhance service in a way that benefits vulnerable members of our community, including people experiencing mental health and substance use crisis, said Chief Supt. Graham de la Gorgendiere, Burnaby RCMP’s Officer in Charge.

We believe bringing agencies and specializations together, taking new approaches, and working in collaboration will make a positive impact on the overall response to mental health, he said.

There were 3,242 calls for service related to mental health in Burnaby in 2022.

Since launching on November 6, this program has had an immediate impact on our community, helping to keep the most vulnerable folks in Burnaby safe, said Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley. Everyone deserves to be treated with care and compassion and I applaud the nurses and Burnaby RCMP members who are doing this essential work.

Examples of calls MICR teams have attended since launching on November 6 include:

The MICR team attended a check wellbeing call for a person already connected to a mental health team. MICR made contact with the person due to their deteriorating mental health and the nurse completed an assessment. The nurse then recommended that police apprehend the person under the Mental Health Act, and as a result the individual was transported to the hospital for psychiatric care.
The MICR team attended a call involving a person in distress. Due to the nurse being able to obtain information on the person’s health records and the MICR officer’s observations, it was determined that an apprehension under the Mental Health Act was appropriate. The person was transported to the hospital.
The MICR team attended a check wellbeing call. The individual was experiencing anxiety, but after a nursing assessment and de-escalation it was determined that the individual could be safely supported in the community. The individual was open to receiving support services, but was previously hesitant to seek assistance due to social anxiety. The MICR nurse completed referrals and provided resources which were well received. The individual also expressed appreciation for the nurse/police attendance.

This is just a small snapshot of the work the MICR program is already doing in Burnaby. We look forward to seeing the positive impact they make in the months ahead, added de la Gorgendiere.

A man and woman wearing vests stand in front of a police SUV on a sunny day