The Mobile Crisis Intervention Team A Partnership Program

The Mobile Crisis Intervention Team A Partnership Program Between St. Michael's Hospital and Toronto Police Divisions 51 & 52 Sarah Fabro, RN, MN in progress, BSc. N St. Michael’s Hospital, MCIT PC Richard Akunyili 52 Division, TPS

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team Background • St. Michael’s MCIT was implemented in 2000 • First program of its kind in Toronto • Launched following several high profile coroners’ inquests including Edmund Yu (1997)

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team MCIT Model • The program partners a police officer from Division 51 or 52 and a SMH mental health nurse who respond to 911 and police emergency dispatch calls involving emotionally disturbed persons (EDP) • Mental health nurse funded by MOHLTC

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team MCIT Goals • Provide on site mobile crisis intervention services to mentally or emotionally disturbed individuals • Provide field police with access to mental health expertise • Divert mentally ill individuals from the criminal justice system to mental health treatment services as appropriate • Reduce inappropriate and lengthy emergency room use for both clients and police, where possible

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team Hours of Operation • The program uses an unmarked police car • It operates 10 hours per day from 11: 00 am to 9: 00 pm, 365 days a year

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team When is MCIT Called? • • Crisis situations that require police High potential for violence Threats of suicide When unable to gain access to a person with mental illness who is unwell • When it is critical to get an mentally ill individual to the hospital as soon as possible

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team Client Population • • Serious mental illness Homeless Substance abuse HIV, Aids Other organic medical problems Low socioeconomic and education status Uncertain legal and citizenship status

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team Geographic Area Bloor to Lakeshore, and from Spadina to the Don Valley Parkway Smallest divisions within the TPS High immigrant, refugee population Densely populated - over 200, 000 people Substantial transient population (1. 6 km w X 8 km) Large ethnic and cultural mix Extreme economic polarization

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team Toronto MCITs • • St. Michael’s Hospital – Division 51, 52 (2000) St. Joseph’s Health Centre – Divisions 11, 14 (2006) The Scarborough Hospital – Divisions 41, 42, 43 (2007) Humber River Regional Hospital – Divisions 12, 13, 31 (2009) NEW this year • Toronto East General Hospital – Divisions 54, 55

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team How To Access EMERGENCY: call 911 NON EMERGENCY: call 416 -808 -2222 **The MCIT is a 2 nd response therefore the Team always responds to calls with regular police officers

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team MCIT Services • Team arrives at the scene, makes an immediate assessment of the situation, intervenes, does what it can to divert the individual from serious problem or harm, and then arranges for mental health treatment (if appropriate) • Referrals to community resources such as safe beds, shelters, case management etc. Short term follow up (telephone or in person) •

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team Benefits • Combined mental health and police expertise leads to better care • Clients seen in their own settings • Non threatening approach to clients / families • Ability of the officer to apprehend persons at risk on scene (Section 17 of the MHA) • Short term follow up or referrals to community resources

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team Benefits • Decreased need for hospital ED visits • Decreased police time at scene/spent in ED • Decreased criminalization of the mentally ill

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team Thank You! Questions?