The provincial government has announced that it is investing $480,000 for Crisis Response Teams in Northeastern Ontario to help police support people 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. Supported by the police, crisis workers can assess if an individual should be sent to an emergency department for treatment and/or provide referrals to community programs that support mental and physical well-being.
“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,” said Vic Fedeli MPP for Nipissing.
The following investments for the 2023-24 fiscal year include:
- $120,000 for the North Bay OPP
- $120,000 for the Kirkland Lake OPP
- $120,000 for the Temiskaming OPP
- $120,000 for the Greater Sudbury Police Service
“The OPP is committed to the safety of the people and communities of Ontario. While police presence is often important to ensure safety and well-being during calls for service, crisis workers are very skilled in de-escalation and can effectively support the individual in crisis. Working together means improved safety and better outcomes for everyone.” – Ronald Bellefeuille, Detachment Commander, Kirkland Lake OPP.
“The Greater Sudbury Police Service remains committed to a community-focused, human-centred approach to calls involving vulnerable community members. Through our continued partnership with Health Sciences North, officers in collaboration with Mental Health and Addictions specialists provide on-site de-escalation to those in crisis while making support services immediately accessible. This not only assists in reducing officer wait times at the Emergency Department, but it ensures that those suffering from addictions or living with mental health challenges are provided with the appropriate resources.” – Paul Pedersen, Chief of the Great Sudbury Police.
“Temiskaming OPP is extremely grateful for the ability to continue our partnership with Canadian Mental Health Association to address addictions and mental health in our community through our Mobile Crisis Response Team. This grant funding will support our MCRT program and ensure that individuals in crisis can get connected with services and treatment in Temiskaming District.” – Ryan Dougan, Detachment Commander, Temiskaming OPP.
“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.
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, to help strengthen Mobile Crisis Response Teams across the province. The Mobile Crisis Response Teams Enhancement Grant is part of Ontario’s “Roadmap to Wellness” to build Ontario’s mental health and addictions system and complements the government’s earlier commitments to protect people’s health and enhance mobile crisis teams across the province.
The Ontario government is also teaming with Ottawa to invest more than $8 million to support the mental health and wellness of farmers and their families. The Farmer Wellness Initiative, the “In the Know” program and the Guardian Network are designed to meet the unique mental health needs of farmers and their families and are delivered by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario Division.
To ensure more people in the agricultural community know about the supports available to them, a new promotional initiative is being launched called the Sowing the Seeds of Wellness Initiative. It will make promotional materials available to eligible general farm and commodity organizations for use and display at member events. Funding will also be available over the next two years so organizations can produce customized materials, engage speakers, and/or develop other promotional activities that will provide farmers and their families with mental health-related information.
$7.03 million of the funding will come from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP.) while a further $1.08 million will be invested from the Roadmap to Wellness. Sustainable CAP is a five-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal‐provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.
“Our farmers and their families face unique challenges, often due to forces that are beyond their control. This can have a severe impact on their mental health, and we will continue to invest in targeted initiatives to support them,” said the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “By increasing awareness of the resources that are available, we can provide crucial support to our farming communities when they need it most.”
“A life in agriculture is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, but it also comes with unique stressors and challenges,” said Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “This investment will ensure the right resources are in place to support Ontario’s hardworking agriculture community when and where they need it.”
“Through the Roadmap to Wellness, we are making it possible for everyone in Ontario to access timely and low-barrier mental health services,” said Michael Tibollo, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Farmers work day in and day-out to provide the resources we all need, so they deserve our full support. This investment is another example of how our government is building a mental health system designed to provide high-quality care in every community across the province – not just in urban centers.”
The 24/7 Farmer Wellness Initiative phone line provides farmers with free, professional mental health counseling services. 1-866-267-6255
