$2.5 million investment in new mobile crisis response team to provide faster, more convenient access to specialized supports
WYOMING — The Ontario government is investing more than $2.5 million over three years to launch a new mobile crisis response team in Lambton County to make it easier and more convenient for people experiencing homelessness or mental health and addictions crisis to get the support they need. This is one of three innovative pilot programs the government is launching that use mobile crisis response teams to expand access to specialized addictions care in the community, avoiding unnecessary visits to emergency departments and police involvement.
“People facing mental health and addictions crisis require immediate response and help connecting to longer-term care options,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Our government is funding innovative programs like this one in Lambton County as a critical step to filling gaps in mental health and addictions care, addressing the surge in demand for substance use services and helping ensure vulnerable people connect to high-quality care where and when they need it.”
The mobile crisis response team is expected to launch later this year and will consist of community paramedicine and mental health crisis workers that can provide immediate mental health and addictions support and options for ongoing care, including:
- On-scene interventions and de-escalation
- Referrals to treatment, community mental health supports, housing and other support agencies
- Connections to primary care providers and access to withdrawal management beds
- Wound care, health and wellness checks, medication supports, warming, cooling and harm reduction supplies, education on first aid and infection control
- Early intervention with individuals experiencing homelessness or mental health crisis and members of other marginalized communities to help address medical and social concerns before they require emergency health or police response.
“Our government is making bold and innovative changes to the health system to improve access to mental health and addictions services that better reflect the needs of people and their families who are experiencing mental health and substance use challenges,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By investing in targeted services like mobile crisis response teams, we are breaking down barriers to mental health and addictions care in communities across the province, saving trips to hospital emergency departments and police involvement for emergencies.”
With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government has significantly expanded addictions services and increased the number of treatment beds across the province, helping thousands of Ontarians access enhanced specialized services for mental health and addictions treatment, including in rural, Northern and Indigenous communities.