Police community mobile response units not the solution to de-escalating mental health emergencies, advocates argue
Police departments in Halifax, Toronto, Hamilton, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Kelowna are among those that have partnered with local health-care providers to create mobile response units that pair officers with mental health professionals.
Meenakshi Mannoe, a campaigner with Pivot Legal Society, said police intervention in mental health crises too often leads to people being funnelled into the criminal justice system. In Surrey, B.C., RCMP officers say they're doing things differently. The detachment has been working with nurses specializing in mental health for 20 years through its Car 67 program, born from a partnership with the Fraser Health Authority.
Either way, police assess the situation first to make sure it's safe for Baker or another nurse to attend. Apprehending under the act can be traumatizing and confusing, said Baker, especially since it involves handcuffs. When she's on duty with Car 67, Baker said she works with the officer she's paired with to de-escalate the situation.
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