Leaders of British Columbia’s justice, public safety, mental health, substance use and social services sectors have committed to create an action plan on crisis response and continuity of care. The action plan is scheduled to be complete by November 2017.

Objectives of the action plan include co-ordinated responses from mental health and criminal justice services to people with mental health and substance use (MHSU) disorders in crisis in the community, as well as ensuring continuity of MHSU care across transitions between the criminal justice and health systems. These objectives include strategies to combat stigma, ensure Indigenous cultural safety and promote trauma-informed practice.

The action plan will include short-term and long-term targets and timelines for reporting on outcomes, as well as cross-sector performance indicators.

A full report of the Justice Summit’s proceedings and recommendations is available at: www.justicebc.ca/justice-summits/  

Quick Facts:

• The next Justice Summit will take place in June 2017.
• The Justice Reform and Transparency Act requires that a Justice Summit be held at least once a year.
• Attendees at the summit included the judiciary, defence bar, police services, clinicians, health administrators, health subject-matter experts, academics, Indigenous organizations, justice services providers, the ministries of Justice; Public Safety and Solicitor General; Health; Children and Family Development; Social Development and Social Innovation; and the Ministry Responsible for Housing; as well as the federal government.
• Government is committed to continue and improve supports to individuals and families who are affected by mental-health challenges and has created a Cabinet Working Group on Mental Health to take stock of existing mental-health programs and services and develop a cross-system response to the issue.

Learn More:

Justice and Public Safety Council: http://www.justicebc.ca/