Vancouver city council will review its next steps for a $2.8 million grant to the health authority in what Mayor Ken Sim says will enhance a police partnership with mental health services.
The investment, along with a funding allocation from council to hire 100 more police officers, will B次元官网网址渂olster VancouverB次元官网网址檚 frontline mental health and public safety response,B次元官网网址� Sim told a news conference on Sunday.
He said the bulk of the new funding B次元官网网址� $2.5 million B次元官网网址� will be used to hire 58 new mental health workers.
Sim explained VancouverB次元官网网址檚 annual grant to the health authority will grow to $8 million and future phases may include more B次元官网网址減roactive responses to mental health,B次元官网网址� such as greater outreach efforts and services to help those recovering from a crisis back into the community.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 incredibly hard to overemphasize the gravity of this announcement and the positive impact that it will have on our community,B次元官网网址� Sim said.
B次元官网网址淲e have an opportunity to set a new standard in North America for a modern and compassionate approach toward addressing the conflict and often interlinked challenges regarding public safety and mental health.B次元官网网址�
The recommendations will be presented to council on Feb. 14.
Sim made the comments outside city hall on Sunday, standing beside Premier David Eby, Health Minister Adrian Dix, Jennifer Whiteside, the minister of mental health and addictions, and VancouverB次元官网网址檚 police Chief Const. Adam Palmer.
Eby said Sim and the City of Vancouver are showing leadership in what is a complex public safety challenge.
B次元官网网址淪olving the problems that we see on our streets is going to take all levels of government working together, Indigenous leadership working with us, community service providers and law enforcement working together, health workers and so many more,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the approach that our government is championing.B次元官网网址�
Dix said the investment in mental health supports will not only benefit the vulnerable, allowing them to get the care they need, but the stronger health care system will also help the entire community.
Whiteside said that when people are in a crisis because of challenges with mental health or substance use, they need to be met with care and compassion.
B次元官网网址淭his partnership will help strengthen the work already underway by the province to provide urgent supports for people,B次元官网网址� she said.
SundayB次元官网网址檚 announcement comes following a motion passed by Vancouver council in November directing city staff to allocate $8 million toward hiring new police officers andup to $8 million for the Vancouver Coastal Health authority to support mental health crisis response services.
SimB次元官网网址檚 party, ABC Vancouver, was elected on promises to hire 100 more police officers and 100 mental health nurses to address public safety concerns.
Sim said the announcement marks a B次元官网网址済roundbreakingB次元官网网址� next step in the partnership between the City of Vancouver, the provincial government, Vancouver Coastal Health and the Vancouver Police Department on public safety and mental health.
B次元官网网址擝rieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press
