‘We don’t have the resources:’ City to call on province for mental health, overdose support
NANAIMO — Don’t forget about us.
That’s the message the City of Nanaimo hopes to convey, as the provincial government begins to roll out potential solutions to the overdose crisis gripping the harbour city and many other communities in B.C.
The City’s Public Safety Committee recommended Council send a letter to the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions calling for support to create an emergency response team based out of Nanaimo to deal with addictions, mental health and violence.
“(It’s about) having Nanaimo have a voice and not being left out of the conversations,” Karen Fry, the City’s fire chief and acting director of public safety, told NanaimoNewsNOW. “We wanted to make sure we get the support we need. It is a mental health and addictions issue and we don’t have the resources in our city to adequately address it from a local government perspective.”