THUNDER BAY — The Ontario government is investing more than $2.7 million over three years to launch a new mobile crisis response team in Thunder Bay 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 Thunder Bay 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 will be called Superior North Specialized Treatment and Alternative Responders (STAR). It 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, de-escalation and emotional support to help reduce violence
- Working together with 9-1-1 models of care so that they can refer eligible patients to the mobile crisis response team for appropriate, timely care instead of transporting them to the emergency department
- A safety plan to help mitigate future crises
- Connections to mental health and addiction services, primary care and community-based support programs
- Transportation to treatment facilities or safe locations, such as justice safe beds or safe consumption sites, if available.
“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.