 A new partnership between DRPS, Durham Mental Health Services and the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences is improving service to those suffering from mental health issues.
With funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care through Durham Mental Health Services, a new Mental Health Response Unit (MHSU) is helping frontline police officers deal with serious mental health calls.
The MHSU consists of a plain-clothes police officer and a mental health nurse and support crisis staff. They respond to police officers' requests for assistance with situations that require skilled mental health interventions. They work to both resolve the immediate situation, and then make sure the person who is experiencing a mental health challenge is given the help he or she needs. Back-up for the MHSU is provided by Durham Mental Health Crisis Services.
"Police officers are often called when somebody's mental illness is causing problems for them, or their families or for the public," says Constable Corey Walsh, the DRPS police officer dedicated to the MHSU. "Often people are afraid. Our officers are doing a great job of calling us in to help. Our first priority is to make sure that everybody is safe and to calm things down."
Ruth Lawrence, the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences mental health nurse on the support unit is happy to be part of such an important initiative, providing vital services to the community. We ensure people receive the follow-up they need, either at the hospital or by giving them intensive support in the community. These are stressful situations and there are often several people who need some support after they have had to call police. Our mental health back-up services are in place to provide support for those suffering from a mental illness and their families.
This new partnership links the continuum of mental health care in the community with the crisis response system. The unit is meeting the mental health needs of people who come in contact with the police, and at the same time is significantly reducing the demand on hospital emergency departments. In the past, all police calls dealing with mental health crises would result in trips to local emergency rooms.
"Our community based crisis services are backing up the calls that Ruth and Corey receive", says Foster Cromwell, a Crisis Intervention Worker with Durham Mental Health Services. "We have a 24 hour community based crisis service that includes a separate mobile team and safe beds so we can follow-up after the first situation is resolved. Hopefully, people will think to call us the next time, to provide assistance before the police need to be involved."
The Mental Health Support Unit is called to assist by Durham Regional Police Services. Or anyone may call the Durham Mental Health Services Telephone Crisis Line, at any time, at 905-666-0483 or 1-800-742-1890.
Members of the Mental Health Unit include:
Cst. Corey Walsh
Email: cwalsh@drps.ca
Phone: (905) 579-1520 ext. 5610
Cst. Scott Logan
Email: slogan@drps.ca
Phone: (905) 579-1520 ext. 5625
Ruth Lawrence R.N.
Email: rlawrence@drps.ca
Phone: (905) 579-1520 ext. 5623
Brian Ulrich R.N.
Email: bulrich@drps.ca
Phone: (905) 579-1520 ext. 5622
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