Grey Bruce OPP help form mental health crisis response team

Grey Bruce and South Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) teamed up to form a Mobile Crisis Response Team to be deployed for police calls involving crisis and mental health.

The final details have been worked out between the partners with the goal of launching the program by the end of the year.

The team will include OPP as well as clinicians from Grey Bruce Health Services who will "co-respond" with police when calls for service also include a crisis and/or mental health component. The team will work together to de-escalate crises and offer intervention and referrals to appropriate services for long-term support and recovery. 

A news release from Grey Bruce OPP indicates the Mobile Crisis Response Team will have the following goals and objectives to assist people in Grey Bruce and South Bruce regions who contact police when experiencing a mental health and/or addiction crisis: 

• Access to timely crisis assessments by a skilled mental health professional.

• Access to the most appropriate level of service available in their home/community environment thereby potentially diverting unnecessary presentations to the local emergency departments.

• A person experiencing a crisis/difficulties will be stabilized within their communities whenever possible, and, with coordinated care, will have fewer episodes requiring crisis intervention and/or contact with police services.

• Transitional support provided and improved coordinated care through timely follow-up contacts, support in the transfer of care with the hospital when required, and referrals to case management support.

• Following crisis assessment and intervention, individuals will have improved access to ongoing supports and services through identified care pathways, and transitional support.

• Individuals experiencing crisis may, whenever possible, be appropriately deferred from the criminal justice system.

• Potential for reduced hospital visits to both local and Schedule 1 hospitals for persons experiencing a mental health and/or addiction presentations.

• Implementation of an evaluation process and quality improvement to achieve a high quality of service.

• Participation in research, education, and training opportunities to support the activities of the Mobilie Crisis Response Team.

A similar program exists for The Blue Mountains and Collingwood OPP, paired with the Huronia West OPP and the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital. 

The Collingwood area program is called the Mental Health Response Unit and is made up of a crisis worker (nurse or social worker) employed by the hospital and an OPP constable.