Back to SearchThanks to a MCRT (Mobile Crisis Response Team) Enhancement Grant from the Government of Ontario, the Peterborough Police Service is teaming up with Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) to increase the number of MCIT (Mobile Crisis Intervention Teams) they put on the street.
The provincial investment of $240,000 over two years (2025-2026 and 2026-2027) will enable the Service to create a third team of a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) and a qualified officer. The team will be embedded within the Police Service and provide immediate & follow-up responses to those experiencing mental health and addiction crises to further increase the potential for better outcomes within the community.
This new team will join the existing two MCITs to provide increased availability. The current MCIT pairings include mental workers from the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA-HKPR). They have a high rate of referrals and follow-up to make sure people are supported beyond their immediate crisis.
Quotes:
"This is excellent news for the Peterborough Police Service,” said Dave Smith, Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha. “Our government's investment in the Mobile Crisis Intervention Team is a critical step in ensuring that those in our community experiencing a mental health crisis receive the compassionate and specialized support they need. This program empowers our police officers and crisis workers to work together, leading to better outcomes for everyone involved and helping to keep our communities safe."
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the provincial government for the opportunity to expand this program. This partnership will increase our capacity to respond to mental health calls for service with the right people at the right time. It also aligns with our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan Goals & Community to increase the number of MCIT teams in the community,” says Chief Stuart Betts. “I’m also thrilled to connect with PRHC in this way as it will allow us to continue building on the Police-Hospital Transition Protocol, with the goal of reducing the number of repeat Emergency Department visits and increasing the wellbeing of individuals in our community. These are the kinds of strategic partnerships that improve our operational responses to benefit our community.”
“The Mobile Crisis Intervention Team model has a proven history of success, providing mental health crisis care in our community when and where it is needed most, and reducing the number of patient visits to the hospital’s emergency department and crisis unit,” says Sean Martin, Vice President, PRHC. “It has been a privilege to collaborate with Peterborough Police Service and CMHA-HKPR over the years to provide community-based care for people who are experiencing a mental health crisis, and we are so pleased to have this vital partnership expand further, thanks to this critical investment by the government of Ontario.”
Background:
Statistics:
- Between January 2019 and December 2021, the Peterborough Police Service responded to 2,275 mental health and addictions occurrences. Between January 2022 and December 2024, officers responded to 3,140 mental health and addictions occurrences. This is a 38% increase over the previous three years.
MCIT Background:
- MCIT began in 2011 with an outreach worker from the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) working out of the Peterborough Police station doing ride-alongs with officers and attending mental health calls. The worker also did follow-up on mental health calls. In 2018 a police officer was added with the outreach worker and the MCIT Unit was born.
- The second unit is the result of City of Peterborough allocation of Peterborough Police budget surplus funds from 2021. This funding to the CMHA HKPR was renewed in 2024 for an additional two years.
Sandra Dueck
Manager, Strategic Communication Services
Peterborough Police Service
sdueck@peterborough.ca
705-876-1122 x217
Michelene Ough
Director, Communications
Peterborough Regional Health Centre
705-743-2121 x4259
mough@prhc.on.ca
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