When experiencing a mental health crisis, many people rely on emergency services such as 9-1-1 dispatchers, paramedic services, police services and hospital emergency department services.

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Emergency response to mental health calls has recently gained significantly greater attention recognizing that these interactions may have potentially life and death consequences for those already in distress. Many of these first response services lack sufficient resources and training, which results in few options to offer when providing care.

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This research project focused on Ontario, Canada, aims to highlight and develop collaborative practices informed by community-based organizations, acute care institutions (such as emergency services and hospital emergency departments), and people with lived experience to provide emergency mental health support. The project plans to highlight and develop practices that appropriately support all members of the community with particular attention to those of lower socioeconomic status, Black and Indigenous communities, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQ+ and immigrant communities who are disproportionately affected by intersecting structures of oppression that negatively affect health. The project has particular interest in non-medicalized, non-traditional approaches to mental health support, including peer support, and approaches that account for the social determinants of health.

 

This project is funded by the NSERC College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF).