The partnership between the Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services and the Middlesex County O-P-P, is set to grow. The Ontario government recently announced they will be investing more than $4 million dollars to expand the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Teams. The teams respond to all sorts of calls, says OPP Constable Aaron Tuffin.
The program started in November 2020 and has received over 1500 calls and follow ups resulting in the diversion of numerous individuals in crisis from attending our local hospitals.
The Middlesex County OPP has been selected as one of 28 police services across the province as a recipient of this grant.
“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.”
Since starting in the fall of 2020, the Middlesex County Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team has responded to approximately 1,500 live calls and follow-up calls for service, resulting in emergency room wait times in hospitals being lowered.
“Over the years, we have seen a large increase in mental health-related calls for service. The MCRRT program has significantly helped guide and assist our frontline officers, leading to less wait times in our hospitals with many successful outcomes,” said Dean Croker, Middlesex OPP Detachment Inspector. “The diversions from our hospitals has provided community members in crisis with immediate assistance and their families receive timely support and referrals without increasing the workload of our local hospitals. This grant will allow us to add a second mental health and addictions crisis worker, to work alongside our designated officer, as we continue to see the mental health workload expand.”
