The Crisis Response, Community Led (CRCL, pronounced circle) service has answered approximately 20,000 calls for help in the province since 2023, according to a new report

The mobile teams include a combination of mental-health professionals and trained peers with lived experience, who help de-escalate situations involving a mental-health crisis and/or substance-use challenges, and connect the person to ongoing community services and supports

Administered and supported by the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division, CRCL is operated by community-based organizations in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Victoria, Prince George, the Comox Valley, Kamloops and Kelowna.

More people experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis are being connected to services to help them stabilize and get the support they need on their journey to well-being, according to an evaluation report.

"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."

Crisis Response, Community Led (CRCL, pronounced circle), formerly known as Peer Assisted Care Teams, is a mobile, community-led crisis service that serves people 13 and older experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis. It might include thoughts of suicide or self-harm, feelings of grief, distress, panic or anxiety, and/or acting in ways that are distressing.

The team is a combination of mental-health professionals and people with lived experience, who are trained in providing trauma-informed, culturally safe crisis support.

The Province, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division (CMHA BC), launched the service in 2023. Since then, the seven CRCL teams have answered approximately 20,000 calls in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Victoria, Prince George, the Comox Valley, Kamloops and Kelowna, according to a new report by CMHA BC.

According to the report, of those calls for service:

Individuals seeking help for themselves made 56.9% of CRCL calls, demonstrating trust in the service. The remaining 43.1% were made by those supporting others, including family, friends, bystanders and service providers.

 In addition, CRCL connected people in crisis to a range of supports, including  crisis intervention and de-escalation,  system navigation and advocacy,  family and social supports,  substance-use and harm-reduction services,  basic needs and safety, such as first aid, food, water or clothing.

"Meeting someone experiencing a crisis with care and understanding can be not only life-changing, but lifesaving," said Jonny Morris, CEO, CMHA BC. "Our evaluation report shows that CRCL is an appropriate and effective response to a mental-health crisis, underscored by the data showing that mobile teams only requested emergency services in fewer than 1% of dispatches. We are so proud of the local service providers and CRCL workers who show up every day to serve their communities with compassion."

In addition to connecting people in crisis to supports, CRCL has been effective in freeing police resources to focus on crime and other areas.

According to the report, dispatchers triaged 98% of calls without police, fire or emergency medical services involvement. When mobile teams responded in person, they directly requested emergency services in fewer than 1% of dispatches.

"When people are experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis, it's critical they are met with compassion, understanding and the right supports," said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. "CRCL is helping connect people to care when they need it most, while freeing up police and emergency responders to focus on other calls and demonstrates the important role of community-led crisis response."

Expanding supports for people in crisis is part of government's work to build a comprehensive system of mental-health and substance-use care. It includes 3,829 publicly funded substance-use treatment beds that support people with addictions, of which 879 treatment and recovery beds are new since 2017, launching the Opioid Treatment Access Line, opening Foundry youth centres and First Nations healing facilities.

Amna Shah, parliamentary secretary for mental health and addictions said, "Everyone deserves to feel safe during a mental-health or substance-use crisis. CRCL not only provides invaluable crisis intervention and de-escalation from someone who has walked the same path, but also provides wraparound supports, including mental-health or substance-use services and basic needs such as clothing or a warm meal, all with the goal of ensuring the person in crisis truly feels supported."