KENORA, Ont. - The Ontario Provincial Police are changing the way they respond to mental health and addictions related calls for service in Kenora through a new partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association.
The Kenora Mobile Crisis Response Team will see a CMHA mental health nurse embedded with the Kenora OPP Detachment and will accompany a specially trained officer on mental health.
"Events across Canada and the United States in recent months have shone a light on an urgent need for respectful, compassionate, informed responses to mental health crisis calls," said Kenora OPP Inspector and Detachment Commander Jeff Duggan in a media release.
"We see this new mobile crisis partnership with CMHA Kenora as an opportunity to equip our detachment with the right tools to bring appropriate crisis care to the people in our community who need it."
The program will begin on Nov. 2 and will include a rotational shift of two-day shifts from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and two evening shifts from noon to midnight.
Existing community crisis services will continue to provide coverage seven days a week.
The Mobile Crisis Response Team will assess, triage, de-escalate and provide resources to individuals experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis.
It will also help divert unnecessary hospital visits and involvement in the justice system, reduce strain on police resources, and reduce stigma against individuals with mental health and addictions related issues.
"This collaboration between the OPP and CMHA Kenora is a natural fit that will make our community safer," said CMHA Kenora Executive Director Sara Dias.
"This joint response initiative will get people the right support through direct connections to community resources. We believe this will provide mental health and addictions care providers the profile and presence they need to help people build resilience, prevent relapse and support more individuals before they reach a crisis. Putting people into appropriate care systems will lead to better outcomes and a mentally healthier community overall."
Kenora OPP responded to 308 mental health and addictions calls for service in 2019 and 208 from January to mid-September this year.
