File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Aaron Schulze

Mental Health and Substance Use

Williams Lake receives clinician-officer team to respond to mental health and substance use crises

Feb 8, 2024 | 10:20 AM

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — The City of Williams Lake is one of four communities within Interior Health (IH) receiving a new service to improve the response for residents experiencing mental health and substance use-related calls.

In a news release issued Wednesday (Feb. 7), IH announced it added a new outreach liaison mental health clinician to Williams Lake. The clinician will work alongside a RCMP officer eight hours a day, five days a week.

“When people are experiencing a mental-health emergency and reach out to police, we need to take the right steps to provide them with the care they need to stay safe,” Jennifer Whiteside, B.C.’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions says. “With the creation of outreach liaison teams, more people in crisis will be met with appropriate care, and a clear path to the help they need.”

IH says the clinician will respond to mental health and substance use crises, when appropriate, using de-escalation techniques and harm reduction approaches to provide mental health and substance use resources and support.

IH notes Williams Lake does not see the same volume of interactions with individuals in crisis as communities with integrated crisis response teams, such as Kamloops. However, IH says it and policing partners see an opportunity to provide additional supports to ensure people who are in distress are met with compassion and connected to other health care services and supports when appropriate.

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Feel good about growing food indoors

9h ago

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: B.C.'s new industrial blueprint

13h ago

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Collins off base by dismissing City of Kamloops staff safety concerns

13h ago

The communities of Cranbrook, Nelson and Trail will also receive outreach liaison mental health clinicians. Teams in all four communities will work together on training, reporting and program evaluation.

Residents in Interior Health can reach the Mental Health and Substance Use Centre closest to them and be connected to service by calling 310-MHSU.