The new Mobile Crisis Team was introduced to the North Bay Police Services Board Wednesday. The team had been operational since September and has already proven to be a success in the community.
The Mobile Crisis Team consists of a police officer and a mental health nurse. The team answers to emergency calls to help people in crisis through a mental health issue and/or an addiction issue.
John St. Jacques, a mental health nurse, explained the team is based on one working in Chatham.
As a team, St. Jacques or mental health nurse, Marion Rupp-Koch accompanies Detective Constable Erin Honeysett. St. Jacques called D/Cst. Honeysett open-minded to allow the mental health nurses to be creative with people in times of crisis. “We determine whether or not the individual needs to go to a hospital. We look at what are the appropriate services that can be utilized in the community.”
"If we have to accompany a person to the hospital, whether they are apprehended under the police act or we bring them up voluntarily, our team’s collaboration can paint a much bigger picture of the situation at hand. Police have commented about how different the calls are with the nurses on hand. “
St. Jacques described how combining their information systems have allowed for a more effective service. “One individual had 17 police calls to the residence over two months, with all the calls generated by her or the neighbour's. Every officer had suspected a mental health condition but there were no records of her in the health system. So through our collaboration she was able to see a psychiatrist.”
D/Cst. Erin Honeysett pointed out how busy the team has been. "There have been 151 calls concerning mental health since the Sept.15th start date."
The team will accompany a person who has been apprehended under the Mental Health Act in the emergency department freeing up other officers.
Chief Paul Cook says that a majority of the calls for police services are social in nature. Nine members of the North Bay force have received special training to better respond to people in a crisis of mental health and/or addictions.
