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New police team to respond to mental health crisis calls by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff F U N D S F O R N E W O T M H 43 | Thursday, December 17, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com The Halton Regional Police Service has developed a special team, in partnership with St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton, to ensure a mental health specialist accompanies officers when responding to mental health-related crisis calls. The Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team, comprised of a registered healthcare professional and a specially-trained uniformed police officer, has been trained to defuse or de-escalate crisis situations, advocate for the person and families in crisis, ensure mental health assessments are completed and will be better equipped to provide resources, help and support for everyone involved, according to a Halton police press release announcing the new program. The team has four units that have become part of the rotating platoon shifts of officers scheduled to work, as of Monday (Dec. 7). The team will now be available 24-7 to respond to calls involving persons in crisis. The four officers selected as part of the oneyear pilot project have a background in mental health response and have experience working with Halton police's C.O.A.S.T. (Crisis Outreach and Support Team) program. The mental health workers are comprised of two registered nurses and two social workers, all of whom have extensive previous mental health experience. "Front-line officers are responding to mental health crisis calls on an increasing basis," said Deputy Chief Nishan Duraiappah. "Our new Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Teams will enhance our ability to deliver specialized services to people in those circumstances. Partnering with health-care professionals is a progressive approach to providing timely and quality service to those struggling with mental health." The teams have also received crisis training with a focus on risk assessment, safe talk training, and assist-training that will enable them to identify when to intervene, how to deescalate a situation, as well as how to control that situation. As police officers are often, and increasingly, the first point of contact for persons in crisis, the deployment of highly-trained officers, with the support of expert mental health workers, is a large step in improving the interaction and relationship between police and people living with mental health challenges. Siobhan Kukolic, Independent Stella & Dot stylist, recently donated 25 per cent of retails sales (totalling $719.88) to the Oakville Hospital Foundation towards new IV pumps for the new Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, which officially opened Sunday, Dec. 13. Pictured, from left, Cindy Lowes, Realtor at Century 21 Pace Realty Corp., who was the hostess for Kukolic's fundraiser trunk show, and Kukolic. | submitted photo Are you sick And tired of being sick And tired? Wellness and Corrective Care for All Ages · Early morning and late evening appointments · Special interest for caring for infants and children available. · Pregnancy care · Advanced computerized scans for spinal nerve stress · X-ray facilities on-site We've helped people suffering from: Low back and neck pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, digestive disorders, breathing problems, osteoarthritis, pinched nerves, sciatica, infertility, allergies, poor posture and more. O akville C hirOpraCtiC l ife C entre Dr. SEBASTIAN GUArNACCIA, DC, BSC (H.K.) T: 905-825-9529 · www.oakvillechiro.com 1500 Heritage Way, Unit 1, Oakville New Patients Welcome! Fabio De Rango Pharmacist/Owner Voted Oakville's Favourite Pharmacist & Pharmacy Your best defense against the flu is the flu shot! Come and get your flu shot today. DE RANGO PHARMACY INC 478 Dundas Street West | 905-257-9737 Canada Post Dr. Stacey would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Our office is excited d to welcome our newest newes hygienist, but one of our oldest and dearest friends, Krista Souliere. DE RANGO PHARMACY INC 2501 Third Line | 905-465-3000 Open 24 Hours - 7 Days a Week 137 George Street, Oakville | www.drstacey.ca To book an appointment Call 905.842.0005 www.shoppersdrugmart.ca