News release

Comox Valley Mobile Integrated Crisis Response Unit

January 27, 2026 - Comox Valley, British Columbia
From: Comox Valley RCMP

Content

In the fall of 2025, Island Health Mental Health and Substance Use Services Comox Valley and the Comox Valley RCMP launched a proactive initiative to meet mental health concerns at the street level.  Through careful consideration and constructive planning with Island health and the RCMP, our two organizations were able to utilize a police and health resource from each and place them in a first responder vehicle together.  This Mobile Integrated Crisis Response (MICR) Unit is capable of assisting other first responders on dispatched calls involving persons experiencing a mental health crisis or in need of mental health services.

“For three months, Constable Greg Hall and Registered Psychiatric Nurse Tara Wyton have been investing their shift time getting to know the people of this Community in a way not previously experienced,” stated Inspector Scott Mercer of the Comox RCMP.  “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.  We recognize the police do not have the skill set to be primary on these types of calls and that our Community interests are better served by introducing health solutions sooner to those that have health needs.  MICR does just that.”

“Co-response teams involving professional mental health and substance use clinicians and experienced, trained police officers provide compassionate, effective and empathetic responses when some one is experiencing a crisis in the community,” said Lesley Howie, Director, Mental Health and Substance Use Services with Island Health. “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. Working with Comox RCMP, we have built on learnings and successes from other co-response units operating in other communities on Vancouver Island.” 

What’s different about MICR?

The team is comprised of a  Mental Health Liaison Officer (MHLO) and an Island Health Registered Psychiatric Nurse who travel and work together for an entire shift. Together they collaborate to make both police and health decisions and assessments in real time. 

MICR personnel are fitted with frontline equipment to keep them safe with identifiable features such as “Police” or “Nurse.”

They are non-traditional frontline response that is empathetic, proactive and community minded. MICR understands there are complexities to calls for service as well as a need to establish safe spaces for people to share private and intimate information to get the help they needed. 

Our MICR responses may include:

• Phone assessment and support;
• Outreach assessment and support;
• Work with individuals who could benefit from a mental health assessment of supportive community care plan.
• Apprehensions under the Mental Health Act;
• Support individuals on arrival to hospital, through triage process, and to the receiving unit;
• On scene support, or direct consult for RCMP members;
• Referrals and bridging to other Community and Health Services.

MICR programs have been established across Vancouver Island as well as the mainland. The first program began as early as 1978 with the Vancouver Police Department.  Since then, police forces and Communities have adopted variations of this program to meet their own Community needs.

The results to date have been positive.  Since MICRs’ introduction to the Comox Valley in September 2025 – preliminary data has supported its use as a frontline resource.  This MICR program assists on police calls, it responds to health concerns identified by: police, MHSU services, Community providers and the general public – as well it collaborates with existing Mental Health programs within the Community in order collectively address health issues.  This program has brought crisis nursing services out into community to support those in need of Mental Health supports at the earliest opportunity. This provides the health supports required in the community in a safe and respectful way for those who require it.

 ‘To develop this one year initiative the Detachment and Island Health have temporarily reassigned resources from other operations. This means we are taking persons out of their substantive roles to fill identified needs in other areas” said Inspector Mercer. Despite early successes, this MICR initiative is temporary unless program coordinators can secure long term funding to keep it running. 

  “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.” Insp. Mercer further commented: “I am extremely grateful for the support provided by Island Health – to make this a reality. Without their flexibility and willingness to take on such an important Community issue the MICR initiative never would’ve had left the ground.”

To persons seeking MICR assistance they can – if not an emergency contact RCMP North Island Dispatch at 250-338-1321. MICR Services are currently offered 4 days a week. If it is an emergency contact the police at 911.  Information about this program can be sought though the Comox Valley RCMP Detachment as well as Comox Valley Hospital Mental Health Support Unit.

Crisis Services

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or escalating concern and are seeking MICR or Crisis services call

Vancouver Island Crisis Line 1-888-494-3388 they will patch you through to the Comox Valley Hospital Crisis Nursing team and MICR

Released by
Insp. Scott Mercer
Officer-In-Charge
Comox Valley RCMP
(250) 338-1321