NEWS RELEASE
SIMCOE NORTH MPP JILL DUNLOP
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The Ontario government is providing $120,000 to help the Orillia OPP provide specialized support to people who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
The funding is being delivered through the Mobile Crisis Response Team Enhancement Grant program and enables police to utilize trained crisis workers when responding to those in need.
“This grant is an excellent benefit to our community and so many agencies that are not sometimes trained to handle mental health calls as the Mobile Crisis Response Team in place at the Orillia OPP detachment is,” said Jill Dunlop, MPP, Simcoe North.
“The funding enables trained crisis workers to respond efficiently to those in need and benefits everybody. Orillia’s Mobile Crisis Response Team is a leading example of success stories.”
In 2023-24, the Ontario government is allocating more than $4.5 million to 39 municipal and First Nations police services, as well as Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), to help strengthen Mobile Crisis Response Teams across the province.
“We’re supporting our police services by providing them with the resources they need to assist vulnerable people in crisis situations,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “Mobile Crisis Response Teams are best positioned to respond to people experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis and are an important part of how police in collaboration with this government are working hard to keep Ontarians safe.”
“Police are called upon to respond to thousands of mental health calls a year,” said Thomas Carrique, OPP commissioner. “The integrated Mobile Crisis Response Teams approach, with officers and crisis workers attending calls together, supports de-escalation at the time of crisis and connects individuals with the right community resources, at the right time, to better meet their needs and reduce future police interactions.”
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