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West Shore
2025-05-08 10:49 PDT
It’s been just over one year since the MICR has been in operation in the West Shore and they continue to see positive results.
In April of 2024, West Shore RCMP established a Mental Health Unit. The Unit consists of one Corporal, two Constables, and two Registered Nurses from Island Health who specialize in mental health. Together, they form two Mobile Integrated Crisis Response Teams (MICR).
The co-responding teams work together to meet community members where they are at – often in their homes. The officers and nurses help provide a timely, supportive and empathetic approach to not only the person experiencing a crisis, but also to their families and caregivers.
[Video starts with text that reads: You matter. We’re in this together. West Shore RCMP Mental Health]
Sgt. Lauren Ferguson: The Mobile Integrated Crisis Response Team (MICR) is a team comprised of police officers and mental health nurses who respond to calls for service in the western communities with a mental health or addictions component.
[Video of nurse Dan Nguyen and A/Cpl. Justine Dancey talking in police car driving in the West Shore]
Nurse Dan Nguyen: We work in a system that is currently very siloed. And these teams help break down those silos.
It brings those silos together and helps improve the quality of care we can provide.
It allows us to see that somebody may have had a dozen police interactions but no mental health interactions within Island Health or visa versa.
And so when we can bring those together it allows that person to receive the appropriate care they need in that moment.
[Video of nurse Shea McKenzie speaking with A/Cpl. Dancey and Cpl. Nancy Saggar at the West Shore RCMP detachment]
[Close up of back of nurse vest]
[Video of nurse Dan and Cst. Gabriel Gravel looking at computer monitor in police car]
A/Cpl. Justine Dancey: Every decision we make, we’re talking to each other.
We’re evaluating because we’re both coming at it from both the same yet separate lens.
So the nurse is looking at that health, mental health prospective.
And as much as I’m also very much interested in that as well, I have a separate lens, which is the public safety lens.
Making sure that that client is going to be safe where they are, making sure their family is going to be safe, and making sure the community is going to be safe.
[Nurse Shea and A/Cpl. Dancey walking together outside West Shore RCMP detachment]
[Close up of front of nurse vest]
[Close up of police car with nurse Shea, A/Cpl. Dancey, and Cpl. Saggar speaking in the background]
[Close up of RCMP patch on arm of jacket]
[Close up of police vest]
Nurse Shea McKenzie: Generally, I will let the officer go in first and make the initial contact and make sure it is a safe environment for myself and for the people that are involved.
From there, I will start my assessment.
And it can look various ways.
A lot of time it’s listening, giving the person that space to tell their story.
You know, it’s watching body language, pilling in collateral information from family, and then you go from there.
[Nurse Shea and A/Cpl. Dancey driving up to a home in an unmarked police car]
[Nurse Shea getting out of police car]
[Nurse Shea sitting on a couch speaking to a male in a home with A/Cpl. Dancey in the background]
[A/Cpl. Dancey in a home listening to male speaking with nurse Shea]
[Nurse Dan and Cst. Gravel driving in police car in the West Shore]
Cst. Gabriel Gravel: What I’ve taken away from observing the nurses talking to clients is really slowing things down.
A lot of people want to be heard.
They want to talk and it’s important for them.
It’s important to be heard.
[Sgt. Ferguson and nurse Dan speaking to a female outside of a building]
[Close up of police and nurse vests standing beside each other]
Nurse Nguyen: I think it’s quite a honour, quite a privilege to be abled to be welcomed into peoples homes and to see them where they are at.
It’s not an opportunity that we can deal with people in crisis in their own personal space.
So I work at the psychiatric emergency services as well and it’s different when you see them in a very controlled health space as opposed to seeing someone in their home.
And so being able to see someone in their home and be able to assess their home environment as well it adds an extra layer of knowledge that you don’t get to see when you see them in a sterile environment.
[Nurse Shea and A/Cpl. Dancey driving in police vehicle in the West Shore]
[A/Cpl. Dancey knocking on front door of a home with nurse Shea nearby]
[Nurse Shea sitting on a couch listening to a male speak in a home]
[A/Cpl. Dancey standing up and speaking to a male in a home with nurse Shea sitting near male on couch]
[Close up of A/Cpl. Dancey listening]
[Male speaking to A/Cpl. Dancey and nurse Shea in his home]
A/Cpl. Dancey: We try our very best to provide those community mental health resources in community.
But sometimes that’s not always possible.
Someone is not well enough to wait or to receive those in community.
And in those cases, yeah, we will apprehend them and take them to hospital.
[A/Cpl. Dancey escorts male to police car with nurse Shea behind them]
[Close up of nurse vest and RCMP jacket]
Nurse McKenzie: We don’t take those decisions lightly.
It’s a very multilayered decision.
We take in peoples history, we take in peoples support systems that are already in place, we take in the ability to contract for safety.
There are many, many different decisions that we make together as a team before we come up with apprehension or not decision.
[Nurse Shea speaks with A/Cpl. Dancey in police car and smiling]
Nurse Nguyen: My experience here on the West Shore is that the team has brought an additional layer of safety to people in the community.
Families really appreciate having mental health professionals come when they are calling for the police.
[Nurse Dan and A/Cpl. Dancey driving in police car in the West Shore]
[Sgt. Ferguson, Cpl. Saggar, and nurse Dan approach apartment front door and knock]
[Sgt. Ferguson and nurse Dan standing together speaking to somebody off camera]
[Test that reads: If you or somebody you know are experiencing a Mental Health Crisis in the West Shore, please contact 9-1-1 or the non-emergency number (250-474-2264) if there are no immediate safety concerns]
In 2024, West Shore received 1,904 mental health related service calls, a 7% increase compared to 1,782 service calls in 2023. Over the last six years, the West Shore has experienced a 46% increase in mental health calls for service. These calls include check well-being, suicidal persons and Mental Health Act apprehensions, but can also include calls for crimes committed by an individual in crisis.
In partnership, the West Shore RCMP and Island Health teams strive to provide the right support, at the right time, via the best possible response.
Released by:Cpl. Nancy SaggarMedia Relations OfficerWest Shore RCMP698 Atkins Avenue, Victoria, BC V9B 3A4Office: 250-474-2264Fax: 250-474-8790Email: westshore_media@rcmp-grc.gc.caWebsite: westshore.rcmp-grc.gc.ca (English only)
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