One of the Comox Valley’s newest RCMP units is working to address mental health concerns at the street level.
Island Health’s mental health and substance use services in the Comox Valley and the RCMP launched the Mobile Integrated Crisis Response unit in fall 2025. The unit assists other first responders on dispatched calls involving people experiencing a mental health crisis or in need of mental health services.
Insp. Scott Mercer of the Comox Valley RCMP said Cst. Greg Hall and registered psychiatric nurse Tara Wyton have spent months getting to know community members in a way not previously experienced.
“Our intention was to develop a non-traditional police response to increasing calls for service this detachment has been experiencing for a number of years.”
The MICR unit pairs a mental health liaison officer and an Island Health registered psychiatric nurse, who work together for an entire shift. They collaborate on police and health decisions and assessments in real time.
MICR responses may include phone and outreach assessments and support, assisting individuals who could benefit from a mental health assessment or supportive community care plan, Mental Health Act apprehensions, hospital support, on-scene assistance, and referrals or connections to community and health services.
“The shared expertise of police and clinical care supports people to get to the right care, in the right place at the right time, and can help to reduce visits to emergency departments and inpatient stays, connecting patients with the right resources they need to get better,” said Lesley Howie, director of mental health and substance use services with Island Health.
MICR programs have been established across Vancouver Island and the mainland, with police agencies adopting variations of the model to meet local community needs.
The RCMP said early results of the program in the Comox Valley have been positive, bringing crisis nursing services into the community to support people at the earliest opportunity.
“While I am confident this program has been helping to reduce needs in other areas of policing and health, MICR needs dedicated funding to maintain its efforts,” Mercer said.
MICR services are currently offered four days a week. More information is available through the Comox Valley RCMP detachment or the Comox Valley Hospital Mental Health Support Unit.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or escalating concern can contact the Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3388 to be connected to MICR services.
