Additional mental health support teams coming to Chilliwack: Public Safety Minister Farnworth

CHILLIWACK — Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth joined fellow MLAs and ministers Monday morning (July 17) at Chilliwack City Hall for a $3 million funding announcement that the province says will bring new mobile, integrated-response teams to Chilliwack and eight other communities throughout the province.

The province said in a statement Monday that people in a mental-health or substance-use crisis will have the support of experts as new mobile, integrated-response teams are coming to nine communities throughout the province.

To help people in crisis and to free up police resources to focus on crime, the province says it is expanding the Mobile Integrated Crisis Response (MICR) Teams (also known as Car programs) to Abbotsford, Port Coquitlam/Coquitlam, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Penticton, Vernon, Squamish, Prince Rupert and the Westshore.

“We have heard from many police departments and health authorities that currently run Mobile Integrated Crisis Response Teams that the programs are extremely helpful – and the demand is growing,” Farnworth said. “Expanding the MICR Teams program will help connect more people in crisis with the appropriate supports and services they need.”