Prince George, B.C. – Car 60 is rolling. It is the new partnership program that links the RCMP with mental health nurses and is meant to link those who are suffering from a health issue with the proper services.

(at right, two  Car 60 Officers and a mental health nurse,  image courtesy RCMP)

Officially launched last week, the two officers, along with a mental health nurse, have already responded to ten calls.

The program is based on a similar one operating in Surrey.   RCMP are often called to respond to matters which are not criminal in nature, but involve a mental health issue. In the past, the General Duty officers who respond would have to spend several hours at the hospital as the subject of the complaint is looked after by health care professionals.   Under the new program, general duty officers who may first respond to a call, will assess the situation and if it is a mental health issue, will put out the call for Car 60.

Constable Sonja Blom is one of the two officers with the Car 60 program. ” Everybody is so excited” says Cst. Blom “When we were doing some public relations for the program people were saying this has been such a long time coming and there is such a need for it here and I really believe that too.”

Cst. Blom says the first week has seen Car 60 deal with different cases, but she imagines that once the program is established she would expect to see some familiar faces. “We have some really great nurses, one full time nurse and a few casuals. The full time nurse has been around the community for a long time and she is so knowledgeable, and so great with the clients.”

Erin Bond is the Mental Health and Addictions Director for Northern Health “We’re quite confident it ( the Car 60 program) is going to help people in the community and really help RCMP in the determination of whether or not to bring people to the hospital and help officers get back into the community as well where they can continue the RCMP role we depend on.”

Last year, Prince George RCMP responded to 1,037 mental health calls, a 3% increase over the same type of calls in the previous year.

Bond says the program will run 7 days a week from noon to 9 pm, the hours stats have shown produce the highest volume of calls for service. “Part of the program will see folks reconnecting with those they know and trust in the healthcare system. ” He says there will be some people who need immediate assistance and support but who don’t need to be hospitalized.

The program is fully funded annually, and Bond says assessment of the program will be ongoing both from the health care side, and from the RCMP.

Constable Blom says the general public may not notice much “We are going to be out and about, so people may see the care and maybe they will notice the approach because we have a nurse there, it will be a softer approach and it won’t be as intimidating with a lot of police officers there depending on the nature of the call. I am so excited, it’s been contagious because of the positive feedback we’ve been getting.”

“We are full steam ahead” says Erin Bond “We are really confident it’s going to work.”  He  says the program won’t necessarily bring more people to hospital, rather, “It will bring the right people to hospital.”