Medical treatment over imprisonment

By Jessica Brisebois

A new program aimed at keeping the mentally ill out of jail was launched Feb.6 by the Ontario Provincial Police Essex County and the Community Crisis Centre at Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital.

The Community Outreach and Support Team program partners an Essex County OPP officer with a mental health crisis worker from HDGH to help people with mental health issues, and their families, deal with a crisis situation.

OPP Western Region chief superintendent John Cain said medical treatment of the mentally ill instead of imprisonment is both cost effective and smart policing.  He said the current system does not meet the needs of those individuals and said change is necessary for both society and financial reasons.

“When I started policing, the practice was, you picked the individual up, filled out a Form 10, took them to the hospital, dropped them off at the door and hoped you made it back to your cruiser before they made it back out the door,”  said Cain. “The stigma that surrounded mental health problems is finally lifting.”

According to OPP commander Glenn Miller, mental health problems are often left untreated because officers are unable to provide individuals with a proper medical assessment. He said repeat cases have become the norm.

“The program was created to address a shortfall in care of those of our communities who do struggle with mental care issues,” said Miller. He said police officers shouldn’t be summoned to act as social workers.

According to a study conducted by London Police Service, one in five people in Ontario deal with a mental illness in their lifetime. The study estimated a cost of $12 million for policing the mentally ill.

A crisis intervention team is not a new concept and several enforcement units have adopted this strategic way of dealing with the mentally ill on a personal level. In Ontario, Hamilton is also using COAST.

HDGH mental health crisis worker Sherry Metivier said she and her partner OPP Constable Byron Hornick, both involved in launching the program, connect the mentally ill individual to the appropriate person to assure some kind of treatment.

“We show up in blue jeans and an unmarked car, just like we’re dropping in for a visit,” said Metivier.

She said this puts the client at ease and lets them know knowing they are there to help. The client receives an assessment, psychiatric consultation and/or treatment depending on the situation. She said she uses direct conversation, her ability to listen and her knowledge of community services available.

“Unless you physically do the move for them, it may never get done,” said Metivier.

The COAST team does not respond to 911 emergency calls. The team responds to referrals or through the COAST crisis line.