A team that helps de-escalate crises for those suffering mental health and addiction challenges can now offer help seven days a week.
The Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team is a partnership between Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and the Essex County Ontario Provincial Police.
The Solicitor General's Mobile Crisis Response Team Enhancement Grant, worth $166,500 for this fiscal year and next, will allow the team to hire a part-time social worker.
"With the addition of this part-time role, the team will continue to greatly assist our acute care partners' emergency services, as well as support the residents of Essex County who rely on this essential service," said Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare President and CEO, Bill Marra.
Between April and November 2020, it attended 166 calls in Essex County, diverting 65 per cent of those involved from area emergency departments. Comprised of OPP officers specially trained to deal with mental-health-related calls and social and crisis workers from Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare, the team can provide an immediate mental health assessment and connect people with the appropriate services in the community.
"The prevalence of complex mental health and addiction concerns in Essex County has steadily increased over the years," said OPP Inspector Glenn Miller. "OPP members and health care partners working together means improved safety and better outcomes for those impacted through a mental health or addiction crisis."
The team responds to calls for those over 16 in Lakeshore, Tecumseh, Essex, Kingsville, and Leamington and is an enhancement to the Mental Health Response Unit.
The Essex County Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team is a three-year pilot project.
