New police unit helps in mental health crisis calls by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 19 | Friday, March 4, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Halton police say a pilot project initiated in December 2015 to help defuse and de-escalate mental health crisis situations is already making a difference in the community. In a report to the Halton Regional Police Service Board Thursday, Insp. Nick Milinovich spoke about the work being done by the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT), which he leads. The team was developed in partnership with St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton and features four groups, each comprising of a specially-trained Halton police officer and a mental health worker. First responders to mental health crisis calls These groups are intended to be the firstresponders to any calls believed to involve someone in mental health crisis. Their goals are to defuse and de-escalate crisis situations, advocate for the person and families in crisis, ensure mental health assessments are completed and provide resources, help and support for everyone involved. The one-year pilot project, which received approximately $500,000 in funding from the Mississauga/Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), hit the streets in Halton mental health-related calls and increase the number of mental health cases diverted from local hospital emergency rooms by 14 per cent. "They (those in crisis) are being connected to services in the community and they are not being taken to the hospital when they don't necessarily need to be," said Milinovich, adding, "That's really important for us." see Mental on p.23 Inventory Clear ut Last minute departures! 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