Police services in 28 communities will receive grant funding to increase their capacity to respond to calls from individuals experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis
Ontario is investing $4 million over two years to expand Mobile Crisis Response Teams.
“Mobile Crisis Response Teams are best positioned to respond to people experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis and to de-escalate situations that could pose a risk to public safety,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “At a time when police are increasingly confronted with the need to assist vulnerable people in acute crisis situations, this new grant program will expand their ability to deliver appropriate services and underlines our government’s commitment to public safety.”
Mobile Crisis Response Teams are made up of police officers and crisis workers working together to respond to complex situations where mental health or addictions may be a factor. With the support of the police, crisis workers determine whether an individual in crisis should be sent to an emergency department for treatment. The crisis workers are also equipped to provide connections to community programming and supports to address an individual’s physical and mental well-being over the longer term.
Under the funding, police services in 28 communities will receive grants to increase their capacity to respond to calls from individuals experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis.
Maximum funding for each project is $120,000 per fiscal year for a total of $240,000 over two years. However, additional funding may be granted pending considerations such as geography and local service system features that impact service delivery costs.
This will enable police services to add mental health and addictions crisis workers to existing Mobile Crisis Response Teams and help ensure these specialized resources are available where and when needed, according to the government.
While 38 per cent of Ontarians report their mental health was negatively impacted in the past year, 14 per cent say supporting a friend of family member experiencing mental health troubles has impacted their own mental health, according to a report commissioned by the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).
“Since 2017, the OPP has observed a 42 per cent increase in mental health-related calls for service. Responding to 911 calls in tandem means that police and crisis workers can ensure everyone is safe while also providing necessary mental health support to the individual in crisis,” said Thomas Carrique, commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment in Dufferin County.
That detachment is among the 28 police services receiving grant funding. All municipal and First Nations police services, as well as the OPP were eligible to apply for funding.
“On behalf of the OPP, I want to thank the Solicitor General and the Government of Ontario for this important and necessary investment in community safety and well-being,” said Carrique.
Previously, the Ontario government announced a $2.5-million through the new Addictions Recovery Fund to immediately enhance access to addictions treatment supports at Monarch Recovery Services, located in Sudbury.
