{"id":16100,"date":"2021-01-26T00:33:17","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T05:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/?p=16100"},"modified":"2021-02-08T00:35:48","modified_gmt":"2021-02-08T05:35:48","slug":"ottawa-police-asking-for-help-developing-new-mental-health-response-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/ottawa-police-asking-for-help-developing-new-mental-health-response-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Ottawa police asking for help developing new mental health response strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"

(January 25, 2021)<\/p>\n

By: Josh Pringle, CTV News Ottawa<\/p>\n

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Police Service is setting up a “Guiding Council” to develop its new Mental Health Response Strategy.<\/p>\n

A report for Monday’s Ottawa Police Services Board meeting outlines plans to establish the arms-length council, made up of representatives from five community networks, to help the service understand the needs of the community, gather and share information and direct the initiative.<\/p>\n

In the fall, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) announced plans to develop a comprehensive mental health response strategy, to be implemented over the next three years. The report says the new strategy will include a “review of and improvements” to how police respond to people in mental health crisis.<\/p>\n

“The strategy recognizes that the OPS must improve the way its members respond to calls for service where mental health and addictions are an issue,” said Ottawa police in a media release last week.<\/p>\n

“But better crisis response is only part of the solution. We also recognize that new, more appropriate and effective options need to be created to replace police responses to many calls involving mental health and addictions.”<\/p>\n

Police say new systems and networks need to be built or strengthened to develop a more appropriate response.<\/p>\n

“This is a critical issue for our community and it is directly linked to our involvement in community safety and well-being,” said a statement from Deputy Chief Steve Bell. “We are listening and we are learning. The strategy will take a holistic look at the mental well-being landscape in Ottawa in an effort to provide better access to services for people in distress as we work towards better mental health outcomes in our community. ”<\/p>\n

The report for Monday’s board meeting says, “The OPS cannot \u2013 and should not – develop, lead or direct this new mental health and addiction strategy on its own. Mental health is a community issue that necessitates a whole-of-community response.”<\/p>\n

“This effort, while initiated by the OPS, will be co-created and led by an arm’s-length Guiding Council.”<\/p>\n

Representatives of the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health will be included on the Guiding Council. The Ottawa Police Service says the network partner’s to-date are:<\/p>\n