The Collingwood OPP’s mental health response unit is getting a new name.
During the July 6 Collingwood Police Services Board meeting, Collingwood OPP detachment commander Insp. Loris Licharson provided an update to the board on renaming the mental health response unit to now be called the mobile crisis response team.
The name change brings the unit more in-line with other units across the province.
“It's an attempt to try and achieve some consistency across the board,” said Licharson. “Not everybody we deal with is having a mental health issue or crisis. There could be many other factors why people need help and are in crisis.”
“I think there’s a lot less stigma attached to it as well,” said Coun. Kathy Jeffery. “I really like the change.”
“The work that they do is incredible. It absolutely is,” said Licharson.
According to data provided by Licharson to the board, the unit responded to 39 calls this past quarter, and had 82 follow ups with individuals following a call. The unit also attended 45 outreach incidents, which is when a member of the unit will speak with an individual in distress and provide information on supports and services.
Licharson noted this equates to about a 25 per cent increase in mental health calls in 2022 compared to 2021.
“We’re noting a 12 to 15 per cent increase year-to-date over where we were in 2022,” he said. “It’s an increasing issue in our community and we’re trying to increase our capacity.”
Licharson noted issues with homelessness, mental health and addiction are all related, but are also not issues that necessarily need to be addressed through policing.
“I’d like to note the homelessness issue isn’t getting better right now,” he added. “We can continue to deal with the symptoms of these core issues.”
Licharson said he had applied for a $120,000 grant for 2023/24 in June in partnership with the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital to help support the mobile crisis response team.
“It would allow us to hire one additional crisis worker which would increase our coverage from four days (per week), to seven,” he said. “It is our hope... it will turn into permanent funding.”
