Experts say more resources and training needed to de-escalate mental health crises
Global News
"The need for mental health services and substance use services has grown hugely, and those services haven't really matched the growing population needs."
In 2021, Shared Health and the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) announced the Alternative Response to Citizens in Crisis (ARCC) pilot project, which saw mental health clinicians and plainclothes officers attend to mental health crises.
The goal was to decrease the use of emergency services for those types of calls, and the year-end report for the project shows it met or surpassed nearly all of its goals.
In 2022, the pilot reduced the number of people police brought to emergency rooms with mental health concerns by 29 per cent, the project report said.
It added 91 per cent of clients stayed in the community after getting mental health support, and 96 per cent of the community agencies the program worked with said it should continue.
In June, the former Progressive Conservative government gave the program $414,000 to expand. But it has faced staffing challenges.
Marion Cooper, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) says it’s a problem across the country.
“The need for mental health services and substance use services has grown hugely, and those services haven’t really matched the growing population needs.”
She said this means some outreach services like Mobile Crisis have been reduced.