Waterloo Region Specialized Crisis Team Project:

Transcript:Waterloo Region Specialized Crisis Team Project::
Waterloo Region Specialized Crisis Team Project: Better Serving the Needs of Persons in Mental Health Crisis. CKCO TV Video Presentation Overview What the Specialized Crisis Team project is about. Background of need. Funding achieved. Implementation. Results. Challenges going forward. Project Rationale “When persons with mental illness in the community are in crisis, neither the police nor the emergency mental health system alone can serve them effectively and (that) it is essential for the two systems to work closely together” (Lamb, Weinberger, & DeCuir, 2002) Desire in Waterloo Region to strengthen the current connections between police, community mental health and acute mental health services. The intent of the strengthened connection is to continually improve and provide a comprehensive, seamless and integrated mental health crisis response for the residents of Waterloo Region. Background In 2012 members of the WRPS attended 2,932 incidents related to persons experiencing some form of mental health crisis, including 1387 attempt suicide reports. Well over 50% of all persons involved in such incidents were apprehended. Only 1 in 5 were admitted, leading to many repeat incidents with the same person, and lengthy wait times at local hospitals. A gap in police education in effectively dealing with persons experiencing mental health crisis was identified. WRPS and CMHA had signed a protocol to have a Mobile Crisis team of social workers attend incidents when requested. The MCT was being under-utilized and it was clear improvements in mental health response were needed. Challenge In mid-2012 (then) Chief Matt Torigian and Waterloo Wellington LHIN CEO Bruce Lauckner met and agreed to engage a partnership including CMHA to address how persons experiencing mental health crisis are helped. As a result, LHIN, CMHA and WRPS partnered to determine a strategy to enhance care for persons experiencing mental health crisis, reduce apprehensions and improve hospital admission rates, while improving officer’s training in appropriate interaction with persons in crisis. Proposal for psychiatric nurses, clinical counselling, a support coordinator, enhanced police training and partnership opportunities quickly created and accepted. Base funding received to establish 11hr/day/7days per week nurses, plus: Funding also covered officer training course costs and radio equipment for the nurses. Funding also provided for 1 FTE clinical counsellor and 2 FTE support coordinators for short term support (30-60 days). Project began in February 2012 and has progressed since. Overall Project Goals Measurable Goals: Reducing the apprehension of persons in crisis to 30% of the total