Province allocates $2.7M for new mental health and addictions crisis response team

A new partnership between local government, emergency services and social services aims to provide “the right care, at the right time, with the right resources” to people struggling with a mental health or addiction crisis.

Representatives from the Barrie Police Service, Simcoe County, Simcoe County Emergency Medical Services, the Simcoe Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and the City of Barrie were on hand this morning at the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus on Fairview Road to inaugurate the new Mobile Crisis Response Team.

Officials say this will make it easier and more convenient for people with mental health problems, addictions and the homeless to get support.

The programme will see mobile crisis response teams work to increase access to specialist addiction care in the community, avoiding unnecessary emergency room visits and police involvement.

The aim is to make it easier and faster for people and families struggling with mental health problems to access the treatment, care and support they need, when and where they need it.

The province is spending $2.7 million over three years to establish a new mobile emergency response team to serve Barrie and the surrounding area, Health Minister Sylvia Jones, who is also the province’s deputy premier, said.

“This is one of more than 100 mobile crisis response teams our government has deployed across the province,” she said. “Connecting health care workers with police or paramedics to respond to crises to ensure people experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis have access to the support they need.”

That team, known as Community Alternative Response Engagement (CARE), is expected to launch later this year, Jones said, and will work in partnership with Barrie police, the county, local paramedics, CMHA and the city.

“(This will allow) emergency medical services and mental health crisis services to work collaboratively with the Barrie Police Service to provide immediate mental health and addiction treatment services to our community,” Jones said.

The CARE team will also offer referral to ongoing care, transport to treatment facilities or safe locations, and follow-up care will be provided within 72 hours of the intervention – including arranging an ambulance if an emergency department visit is required.

“The CARE Team is one of three innovative pilot programs our government is launching that leverage creativity and collaboration through mobile crisis response teams to expand access to specialized addiction care in the community,” she said.

It’s no secret that Barrie and the surrounding area have been struggling with significant addiction and mental health issues in recent years, said Michael Tibollo, associate minister of mental health and addictions.

“Today’s announcement is about demonstrating that as a government we take these challenges seriously and we stand behind our words,” he said. “We know that people struggling with mental health and addiction have better outcomes when they are treated close to home. We have the evidence to back this up and we know that this is what needs to be done.

“We also know that a key part of getting someone the help they need is gaining their trust, and that process starts with how we interact with them, especially if they are in crisis,” Tibollo added.

He added that ensuring easy access is important in building trust.

“In the province of Ontario, working with our municipalities, we agreed that specialized crisis response teams that include first responders and mental health workers were the right way forward,” Tibollo said.

“It’s rare in politics and government that everyone works together and agrees on a direction to take, and in this case I’m incredibly proud of the fact that so many community organisations, so many people who provide support and services, understand and see the importance of working together and building these systems of care in the community,” he added.

Police Chief Rich Johnston said police tend to see people when they are going through the worst experiences of their lives. He said Wednesday’s announcement underscores how important it is for all agencies to work together to support residents, especially those struggling with mental health and addiction crises.

“We want to ensure that people in crisis receive the most effective and efficient response possible,” the police chief said. “However, we also know that often the presence of a police officer, despite his sincere desire to help, can exacerbate an already difficult situation.

“Our data shows that many of the biggest (users) of police services are low-risk individuals who have issues with homelessness, addiction and mental illness,” Johnston added. “By providing a non-police, specialist medical response to these types of calls, the CARE team works to provide the most effective response.”

Lynne Cheliak, Chief Operating Officer of the Simcoe County CMHA, called today’s announcement a “significant milestone” for the community.

She added that the investment is not only financial, but also shows commitment to the future and well-being of residents.

“(It) illustrates the power of collaboration and the extraordinary results that can be achieved when we unite behind a common vision,” Cheliak said. “Our approaches may differ in philosophy and mandate, but our unwavering commitment to this community is what unites us.”

Cheliak said the partnership will enable them to make timely and appropriate interventions, reducing the burden on local emergency services and emergency rooms.

“This underscores the critical importance of investing in community-based mental health and addiction treatment services that are essential to providing the appropriate level of intervention, referral and navigation services to our most vulnerable population,” she said. “We are excited about the integration of the CARE program…ensuring that individuals receive the right care at the right time and with the right resources.”

Jones said it will be possible to track the types of connections and services used in the pilot, adding that the data will help assess the program’s success.

“I have every confidence that the model of care we are announcing today will be very successful,” she said.

The CARE team’s tasks include:

• On-scene interventions and de-escalation, including support to Barrie Police Service in dispatching a team and redirecting calls to avoid police involvement.
• Referrals enabling access to treatment, primary health care and social support close to home.
• Transportation to treatment facilities or safe places such as a drug treatment centre, the mobile drug treatment services offered by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in Simcoe County, or a safe bed program.
• Providing follow-up care within 72 hours of the intervention, including arranging an ambulance if a hospital emergency department visit is necessary.
• Any healthcare-focused mobile crisis response team model will be implemented through a community emergency medical services program and will have no impact on 911 emergency medical services, including dispatch.