A new resource is coming to Prince George to help those experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis.
The province has announced a new community-led Peer Assisted Care Team (PACT) for the City.
“PACT provides immediate, compassionate help from those who have walked a similar path,” said Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside.
“In Prince George, people in crisis will benefit from the support of skilled professionals and a person with lived experience who understands what they are going through. This approach ensures a more effective, sympathetic response that can make all the difference in a person’s recovery.”
According to the BC Government, PACTs are mobile, community-led crisis teams trained to de-escalate mental-health crisis situations and provide trauma-informed, culturally safe support.
These teams help free up police time to focus on crime and divert people from hospital emergency rooms and the criminal-justice system, while helping them access services in their communities.
The PACT will be operated by the Prince George Native Friendship Centre with oversight and support from the Canadian Mental Health Association of BC.
The team will start offering services to residents 13 and older experiencing mental-health or substance-use crises on Sunday. (July 28th)
“We are thrilled that people living in Prince George will soon be able to access additional mental-health and substance-use support through the Prince George PACT team,” said Mayor Simon Yu.
“This crisis-response service will help support efforts to address mental-health and addition issues while allowing police to focus more resources on crime. We are thankful to the province and the Canadian Mental Health Association, and we look forward to seeing this service benefit residents of Prince George.”
PACT teams have already been operating in Victoria, North and West Vancouver, and New Westminster, and two more are on the way in Kamloops and Comox.
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