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On Monday, 11 April 2022, at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, the Province of British Columbia announced a $1.26 million investment in a new approach in responding to mental health crises.

Peer-assisted Care Teams (PACT) are an initiative of the Canadian Mental Health Association to provide compassionate, community-based and trauma-informed support to families and individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.  The goal is to respect the dignity and autonomy of the person(s) involved in the crisis.  A further goal is to create a climate of health-based rather than police-based responses to the mental-health situations.

This initiative began in North and West Vancouver in November 2021.  Since then, the PACT has responded to more than 200 calls.  With the funding just announced, the Province and CMHA will create PACT teams in New Westminster and Victoria.

We are all too aware of the mental health challenges that exist in our communities and that COVID has only increased.  If you and/or your congregation wish more information about this initiative, please visit CMHA BC PACT and learn how you might expand this approach even more widely.