Ontario Connecting People in Barrie to Mobile Mental Health Services

Press Release

September 25, 2024

BARRIE — The Ontario government is investing up to $2.7 million over three years to launch a new mobile crisis response team in Barrie to make it easier and more convenient for people experiencing homelessness or mental health and addictions crisis to get the support they need. This is one of three innovative pilot programs the government is launching that use health-led mobile crisis response teams to expand access to specialized addictions care in the community, avoiding unnecessary visits to emergency departments and police involvement.

“People facing mental health and addictions crisis require immediate response and help connecting to longer-term care options,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Our government is funding innovative programs like this one in Barrie as a critical step to filling gaps in mental health and addictions care, addressing the surge in demand for substance use services and helping ensure vulnerable people connect to high-quality care where and when they need it.”

The mobile crisis response team will be called Community Alternative Response Engagement – CARE. It is expected to launch later this year and will consist of community paramedicine and mental health crisis workers that can provide immediate mental health and addictions support and options for ongoing care, including:

• On-scene interventions and de-escalation, including support for the Barrie Police Service to dispatch this team and divert calls away from police involvement.
• Referrals to connect people to treatment, primary care and community-based supports close to home.
• Transportation to treatment facilities or safe locations, such as a treatment withdrawal management facility, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Simcoe County Branch’s in-home mobile withdrawal management services or their safe bed program.
• Follow up care within 72 hours of an intervention, including arranging an ambulance if a visit to a hospital emergency department is required.

“Our government is making bold and innovative changes to the health system to improve access to mental health and addictions services that better reflect the needs of people and their families who are experiencing mental health and substance use challenges,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By investing in targeted services like mobile crisis response teams, we are breaking down barriers to mental health and addictions care in communities across the province, saving trips to hospital emergency departments and police involvement for emergencies.”

With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government has significantly expanded addictions services and increased the number of treatment beds across the province, helping thousands of Ontarians access enhanced specialized services for mental health and addictions treatment, including in rural, Northern and Indigenous communities.

Quick Facts

• The CARE team will operate as a partnership between Barrie Police Service, the County of Simcoe, Simcoe County Paramedic Services, the Canadian Mental Health Association – Simcoe County Branch, and the City of Barrie.
• The government is investing up to $8 million over three years through the Addictions Recovery Fund for three pilot mobile crisis response teams in Lambton County, Thunder Bay and Simcoe County.
• Each health-led model of mobile crisis response team will be implemented as a community paramedicine program and will not impact 9-1-1 ambulance services, including dispatch.
• Ontario continues to expand successful 9-1-1 patient care models that provide paramedics more flexibility to treat certain patients who call 9-1-1, at home or on-scene in the community. There are currently over 200 patient care models being led by 56 paramedic services across the province that are now approved to provide more appropriate and timely care options for eligible 9-1-1 patients in the community, instead of in the emergency department.
• Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to fill gaps in mental health and addictions care, create new services and expand programs through Roadmap to Wellness.
• As part of Budget 2024, Building a Better Ontario, the government is investing an additional $396 million over three years to improve access and expand existing mental health and addictions services and programs. This includes an investment of $124 million over three years to continue to support the Addictions Recovery Fund and ensure people can connect to enhanced specialized mental health and addictions treatment they need.

Quotes

“Addressing the needs of those facing mental health and addictions crisis is not a one-size fits all solution. Innovative programs like Community Alternative Response Engagement team create the opportunity to meet those in crisis where they are, and help connect them with life saving services. This unique model will help to address the needs of our community and provide care for those in crisis in a dignified and patient focused manner, while helping to ease the burden on emergency services.”

– Doug Downey
MPP, Barrie – Springwater – Oro-Medonte

“Mobile Crisis Response Teams are best positioned to respond to people experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis and to de-escalate situations that could pose a risk to themselves and public safety. At a time when police are increasingly confronted with the need to assist vulnerable people in acute crisis situations, this innovative pilot program will expand access to specialized addictions care in the community, avoiding unnecessary visits to emergency departments and police involvement.”

– Andrea Khanjin
MPP, Barrie – Innisfil

“As MPP for Simcoe North, I’m pleased to see our government making a significant investment to launch a new mobile crisis response team in Barrie, which will also extend its services to our surrounding communities. This crucial funding means that individuals facing emergencies will have quicker access to the specialized care they need, right when they need it most. By enhancing our community’s ability to respond to crises, we’re taking an important step toward ensuring the safety and well-being of all our residents.”

– Jill Dunlop
MPP, Simcoe North

“I applaud the province for taking action to provide Barrie with the critical support needed to help address the homelessness/mental health and additions crisis. Municipalities, provinces, and the federal government must work together to address this crisis. This funding is an important step forward in getting people the support they need and creating a safer community for all.”

– Alex Nuttall
Mayor of Barrie

“County of Simcoe Paramedics are pleased to participate in this pilot program and continue expanding our support to the communities we serve. The prevalence of mental health challenges and additions continue to increase, and we thank the Ontario Government and our partners for implementing this program in Simcoe County.”

– Basil Clarke
Warden, County of Simcoe

“The CARE Team is an excellent example of a research-informed approach to community partners working together to provide the best and most effective support for the public. The Barrie Police Service appreciates the commitment of all those involved in initiating this project and we look forward to supporting this team as they begin serving the community.”

– Rich Johnston
Chief, Barrie Police Service

“The launch of the Simcoe County Community Alternative Response Engagement (CARE) Program marks a pivotal moment for our community. With the Ministry of Health’s support and our close collaboration with Barrie Police Services and the County of Simcoe Paramedic Services, we’re creating a future where mental health and addiction services are accessible, responsive, and deeply integrated into the fabric of our community. This program is more than just a service—it’s a promise to our residents that they will receive the care they need, precisely when they need it.”

– Lynne Cheliak
Simcoe County Branch Director, Service Operations, CMHA

“We are grateful to work with our partners at the Canadian Mental Health Association and Barrie Police Service in this innovative model of care and the opportunity to further expand our role in providing community paramedicine across the region. This initiative is crucial in addressing the increasing number of patients with complex mental health and addiction needs. By implementing ‘treat and refer’ and ‘alternative destination’ options for adult patients, we can effectively divert individuals to the appropriate services, ensuring they receive the comprehensive care they truly deserve.”

– Jane Sinclair
General Manager, Health and Emergency Services, County of Simcoe

Additional Resources

• Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care
• 2024 Ontario Budget: Building a Better Ontario
• Roadmap to Wellness: A Plan to Build Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions System
• Find out how you can access mental health support

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Hannah Jensen
Minister Jones’ Office
Hannah.R.Jensen@ontario.ca

Communications Branch
media.moh@ontario.ca
416-314-6197

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