A program that provides mental health outreach in the area has expanded.
The Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST), a partnership between the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Simcoe County branch and Orillia OPP, has received funding to temporarily hire a second crisis worker.
When COAST launched, CMHA workers occasionally joined police on mental health calls. Now, they are available Monday to Friday and every other weekend.
The expansion is a timely one, said Kerry Dault, program manager, crisis services, with the CMHA in Simcoe County. The area policed by Orillia OPP has become larger since Barrie OPP folded into the local detachment.
“Their area of service has expanded, which means one COAST team simply can’t follow up on all of the mental health calls in that area,” Dault said, referring to the program expansion as “hugely beneficial and absolutely necessary.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has “magnified” mental health issues, she said, but those types of calls have been increasing for years.
“More people are needing and wanting help. As mental health becomes more of a household topic and people are recognizing mental health issues more, they’re willing to seek more help,” she said, adding calls often come in from concerned family members and caregivers.
The pandemic has worsened the situation, said Orillia OPP Const. Ted Dongelmans. He noted the detachment has reported a 23 per cent increase in mental health calls over the previous year.
“That, in itself, shows that the last year has been tough on a lot of people,” he said. “The pandemic has affected the ability of some support services to deliver the services that are required.”
The demand was there before the pandemic, he added. Even then, police recognized a need for an expansion of COAST.
Dongelmans would like to see the program funded permanently and expand to make crisis workers available 24 hours per day. They currently only work during the day as part of COAST.
“We’ve had some noteworthy success stories recently where the COAST team have proven their worth, so we’re hoping that will lead to permanent funding,” he said. “We feel there is a need for it. The program does work.”
Aside from its obvious benefits to those who need the help of a crisis worker, it is also a win-win for the OPP and the CMHA, Dongelmans said.
“Officers are trained in mental health awareness, but the COAST workers have more resources available to them and more experience in dealing with people with mental health challenges,” he said.
The presence of a police officer “sometimes scares” people, he said, but added the goal is to avoid taking people into custody whenever possible.
“The role of the COAST program is supportive, not punitive,” he said. “In most cases, the police are just there for the safety of the mental health worker and the person requiring the support.”
The importance of the program cannot be overstated, Dault said.
“It’s the only way to get on-the-spot, immediate intervention by a trained mental health professional with individuals in the community,” she said.
She, too, would like to see COAST funded permanently. It would allow for crisis workers to attend more calls. There are certain situations that prevent them from responding on their own.
With COAST, “because we have that safety aspect with police, we can go to any location,” she said.
The CMHA’s Simcoe County branch also partners with Barrie Police Service and South Simcoe Police Service to deliver COAST.
