I arrived at the K’ómoks First Nation Big House just as the morning fog was lifting from the Comox Valley. The cedar building stood in stark contrast to the clinical settings where mental health crises typically unfold. Inside, Elder Donna Mitchell offered a welcome prayer before Health Minister Adrian Dix took to the podium to announce what many community advocates have spent years fighting for: $2.7 million in provincial funding to expand community-led crisis response services throughout the Comox Valley.
“This isn’t just another health program,” Dix told the gathered crowd of frontline workers, Indigenous leaders, and community members. “This represents a fundamental shift in how we approach mental health crises in our communities.”
The funding will support the Comox Valley Community Crisis Response Team, a collaborative initiative that pairs mental health professionals with peer support workers who have lived experience of mental health challenges. The approach marks a deliberate pivot away from traditional police-first responses to mental health emergencies.
For Melissa Baker, who has spent years cycling through emergency rooms and police interactions during mental health crises, the announcement represents a lifeline. “When you’re in crisis, a uniform can escalate everything,” she told me after the announcement. “What you need is someone who understands what you’re going through, someone who sees you as a person, not a problem to solve.”
The program builds on successful models already operating in Victoria and Vancouver, where community response teams have diverted thousands of calls from police and emergency departments. According to data from the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, Victoria’s PACT (Peer Assisted Crisis Team) program responded to over 1,700 calls in its first year, with fewer than 5% requiring additional police intervention.
But what makes the Comox Valley initiative distinct is its deep integration with Indigenous healing practices and cultural safety protocols. The K’ómoks First Nation has been involved in program development from the beginning, ensuring that responses are culturally appropriate for Indigenous community members.
“Our people experience crisis differently because of intergenerational trauma,” explained Nicole Rempel, K’ómoks First Nation Chief. “Having responders who understand our history and our ways of healing isn’t optional—it’s essential.”
The expansion comes at a critical time for the region. The Comox Valley RCMP detachment reports responding to over 800 mental health-related calls annually, straining police resources and often leading to outcomes that fail to address underlying needs. Island Health emergency department data shows a 47% increase in mental health presentations since the pandemic began.
Dr. Sarah Thompson, psychiatrist with Island Health and program consultant, explained that traditional crisis responses often miss the mark. “When someone is experiencing psychosis or severe emotional distress, the lights, sirens, and authoritative approach of traditional first response can actually deepen the crisis,” she told me as we walked through the program’s new headquarters, a renovated community center near downtown Courtenay.
The space feels intentionally un-clinical—comfortable seating, natural light, and artwork from local artists cover the walls. One room contains traditional medicines and space for cultural practices. Another offers immediate practical supports: food, clothing, and harm reduction supplies.
“Crisis doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” explained Jason Parker, the program’s operations director and former paramedic. “Often what we’re seeing is the intersection of mental health, substance use, poverty, and housing insecurity all coming to a head.”
The new teams will operate 24/7 with mobile response units capable of reaching all communities within the Comox Valley Regional District. Importantly, the program includes follow-up support—connecting individuals with longer-term resources after the immediate crisis passes.
When I asked Minister Dix about sustainability beyond the initial funding period, he acknowledged the concern. “This isn’t a pilot project,” he emphasized. “We’re committed to sustainable funding because we recognize that community-based crisis response isn’t just more humane—it’s more effective and ultimately more economical than cycling people through emergency rooms and jails.”
The approach represents a growing recognition that mental health crises require healthcare responses, not law enforcement ones. A recent Canadian Mental Health Association report found that 79% of Canadians prefer healthcare professionals respond to mental health crises rather than police.
For Indigenous communities, who experience disproportionate rates of police involvement during mental health crises, the shift is particularly significant. Statistics Canada data shows Indigenous people are more than twice as likely to have police respond to their mental health crisis compared to non-Indigenous people.
The program’s timeline appears ambitious, with initial teams set to begin responding to calls by September. Training for the first cohort of peer support workers has already begun, with many bringing powerful personal motivations to the work.
“I lost my brother to suicide after a police interaction during a mental health crisis,” shared Trevor Collins, one of the peer support workers in training. “He needed connection and compassion. Now I get to be that person for someone else.”
As the formal announcement concluded and community members shared a meal together, I watched interactions between program staff, health officials, and community members. The conversations weren’t about program metrics or budget lines, but about people—neighbors, family members, friends who might benefit from a different approach when they’re at their most vulnerable.
Elder Donna Mitchell summed up the community sentiment as she closed the gathering: “Today we’re not just announcing a new service. We’re reclaiming our responsibility to care for one another when we’re at our most vulnerable. That’s not new—that’s how it always should have been.”
The Comox Valley Community Crisis Response Teams will begin accepting calls in September 2025. Community members can access the service through a dedicated crisis line or through 911 dispatch, which will now have protocols to redirect appropriate calls to the crisis team instead of police when warranted.
