Toronto's non-police crisis response service expands citywide

A community crisis service that provides support for people experiencing mental health emergencies is now operating across all areas in Toronto after Mayor Olivia Chow officially launched it citywide on Thursday.

The Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) isthe city's fourth emergency response service after Toronto police, paramedics and fire services. The service has responded to nearly 18,000 calls since it began as a pilot projectin March 2022.

Chow told reporters at a news conferencethat the servicesaves lives. She said its expansion is three months ahead of schedule. The service has 200 staff members, of which 100 are crisis workers, and 12 mobile units.

"The community crisis service, we're expanding itcitywide," Chow said to applause. "Every part of the city, 24/7, mobile crisis workerteams at your doorstep when you need it the most, they are there, seven days a week."

In a news release on Thursday, the city says the service provides a "model of mental health and addiction crisis response that is community-based, client-centred and trauma-informed." Residents can call 211 to be connected tothe service.

The service provides free, confidential, mental health support from mobile crisis teams in person to Toronto residents 16 years of age or older.

Chow said she would like to expand the program with more funding and staff, but that move wouldrequire help from other levels of government. She said there is never enough support for people experiencing mental health emergencies.

"This is health care, and I'm hoping that other levels of government will also join and partner with us. At this point, it's 100per cent funded by the City of Toronto, but we are proving that it's needed, it has an impact, it saves lives and it can help people heal," she said after the official launch.

Service provides care,official says

Denise Andrea Campbell, executive director of the city's social development, finance and administrationdivision, said the service has mobile teams that provide people with the care they need. It also provides follow-up care to ensure people are connected to community services.

"It is a consent-based, client-centered community lead modelthat provides 24/7 response for people who are experiencing a mental health crisis, need a wellness check, or having a substance use issue."

The city developed the service after years of pressure from community leaders who demanded a non-police response to mental health calls. Now police have the option to use the service as a tool when they encounter somebody in the midst of a mental health crisis.

Crisis workers aim to de-escalate

Dawud Bramble, a clinical lead for the service with Canadian Mental Health AssociationToronto and a crisis worker, said crisis workers try to de-escalate situations as part of their response.

"All of us have a background in mental health, so that waywe can support somebody by explaining what's happening, we can explain to the family what's going on. We also have resources and agencies that we partner with in the community that can work with that individual through a referral process," Bramble said.

Bramble said the serviceworks with and has a good relationship with Toronto police and it will "co-respond" tocalls.

When there is a risk of violence, police will still respond tocall, he said. Many calls that the service gets come from the police, he added.

Bramble said police "may attend the call, and it may be something that is not under their scope. It could be someone that is experiencing a psychoticbreak, and they may not understand what's happening at the time, so they call us, they support us, we support them, we work together, they clear the call and we continue from that point."

Daika Farah, community engagement lead for the service with Canadian Mental Health AssociationToronto, added: "We do have a multi disciplinary team that's culturally diverse. We do speak over 15 languages on our team."

Initially, as a pilot project, the serviceserved four areas of the city. In July, it expanded to serve the entire city. On Thursday, that expansion became official.

According to the city, the service works in partnership with five partner organizations. Itscrisis workers are employed by thepartner organizations, while the city providesoversight, financial and logistical support, performance monitoring and community engagement.

The partner organizations are:2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations; Canadian Mental Health Association, Toronto Branch; Findhelp211; Gerstein Crisis Centre and TAIBU Community Health Centre