In a significant move to enhance mental health and addiction support in the Barrie area, the province has announced a $2.7 million investment over three years to launch a new mobile crisis response team. This initiative aims to ensure individuals in crisis receive the appropriate care promptly and efficiently.
Collaborative Effort
The partnership involves multiple stakeholders, including the Barrie Police Service, the County of Simcoe, Simcoe County Paramedic Services, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Simcoe County branch, and the City of Barrie. This collaboration is designed to provide a streamlined approach to mental health and addiction crises, allowing for immediate and effective support for those in need.
Addressing Immediate Needs
The mobile crisis response team will focus on delivering specialized care directly within the community, thus reducing the need for individuals to seek help in emergency rooms or engage with police unnecessarily. By implementing health-led mobile crisis response teams, the program aims to facilitate easier access to addiction services and mental health support.
Minister’s Remarks
Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, who also serves as the province’s deputy premier, emphasized the importance of this initiative. “This is one of the over 100 mobile crisis response teams our government has launched across the province,” Jones stated. The teams will pair healthcare professionals with police or ambulance responders to ensure that individuals experiencing mental health or addiction crises are connected to the necessary support.
Key Features of the CARE Team
The new team, named the Community Alternative Response Engagement (CARE), is expected to launch later this year. It will focus on:
Immediate Response: Providing real-time mental health and addiction support within the community.
Referral Options: Connecting individuals to ongoing care and treatment facilities.
Transportation: Offering transport to treatment centers or safe locations as needed.
Follow-up Care: Ensuring follow-up support is provided within 72 hours post-intervention, including arranging ambulance services if emergency department visits are necessary.
Conclusion
The establishment of the CARE team reflects a proactive approach to mental health and addiction crises in Barrie, enhancing the community’s capacity to provide timely and effective support. This initiative is a crucial step toward improving mental health resources and ensuring that those in crisis receive the care they need when they need it.
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