Toronto Police Launch Pilot to Expedite Transfer of Care for Individuals Apprehended Under Mental Health Act
In an effort to improve the care and treatment of individuals apprehended under the Mental Health Act, the Toronto Police Service has launched a new pilot program. The program, which began on December 1st, aims to speed up the process of transferring individuals to appropriate mental health facilities.
Under the current system, individuals who are apprehended under the Mental Health Act are taken to a hospital for a psychiatric assessment. If the individual is deemed to require further care, they are then transferred to a mental health facility. However, this process can often take several hours, leaving individuals in a state of distress and potentially putting a strain on hospital resources.
The new pilot program, which is being implemented in partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), will see specially trained officers accompany individuals to the hospital for their psychiatric assessment. If the individual is deemed to require further care, the officers will then transport them directly to a mental health facility, bypassing the need for them to wait in the hospital.
According to Toronto Police Chief James Ramer, this pilot program is a step towards improving the overall response to mental health crises in the city. “We recognize that individuals in crisis need timely and appropriate care,” he stated. “This pilot program will help us achieve that goal by streamlining the process and reducing wait times.”
The pilot program will run for six months and will be evaluated by both the Toronto Police Service and CAMH. If successful, it may be expanded to other areas of the city.
This initiative is part of the Toronto Police Service’s ongoing efforts to improve their response to mental health calls. In 2019, the service launched a mobile crisis intervention team, which pairs a mental health nurse with a police officer to respond to mental health calls. The team has been successful in diverting individuals away from the criminal justice system and towards appropriate mental health care.
The launch of this pilot program is a positive step towards providing better care and support for individuals experiencing mental health crises. By working together with mental health professionals, the Toronto Police Service is taking a proactive approach to addressing this important issue in our community.
