Ottawa city council has approved a plan to create a mental health emergency dispatch line and mobile crisis team that will be available 24/7, similar to 9-1-1.
The goal is to establish a new number that residents can call other than the police. A non 9-1-1 phone number would triage calls and dispatch response. A 24/7 mobile team would respond and be led by civilian professionals with expertise in mental health and substance use crises. The city says non-uniform responders would offer trauma informed and culturally appropriate crisis response services.
A motion by Coun. Ariel Troster, which was also unanimously supported, would place Dudas or committee vice-chair Coun. Jessica Bradley on the guiding council that will develop the launch of the program. "Whether that takes the amount of time staff are predicting, I don't know, but I do know that the sooner we can get this program launched in our community, both as a pilot but then again as a city-wide initiative, the benefits will be there," she said.Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley praised the idea when it came before committee in June.
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