Local police partner with hospital to launch new mobile mental health engagement and response team to bring clinical expertise directly to those in need
An innovative partnership between local police forces and community mental health providers is coming to Northumberland thanks to new funding from the Central East Local Health Integration Network (Central East LHIN).
Directly aligned with the Central East LHIN goal to advance integrated systems of care and help individuals remain in their communities and homes, M-HEART (Mental Health Engagement and Response Team) combines supports within the justice and health care systems to better assist individuals with mental illness and/or addictions in Northumberland County.
Beginning this spring, M-HEART will be in operation five days per week in connection with both the Northumberland OPP Mental Health Response and Liaison Officer and the Cobourg Police Service Mental Health Response Officer to improve mental health support across local townships and/or municipalities including the Town of Cobourg, Trent Hills, Alnwick/Haldimand, Hamilton, Cramahe and the Municipality of Port Hope. Discussions are currently under way to expand the team’s support to the Port Hope Police Service in the near future.
Existing Mental Health Response Officers will be accompanied on ride-along with new M-HEART Social Worker and/or Mental Health Nurse resources to jointly and proactively engage with individuals in the community with mental health and/or addiction issues. The new M-HEART clinicians will provide a mix of supports, including intensive case management, mental health therapeutic treatment, family supports, assertive outreach, advocacy, linkage to hospital-based resources, linkage to community resources (including multi-sector supports, such as income assistance and housing support), as well as primary care connection, all with an aim to support longer term stabilization of a vulnerable population.
Additionally, in the case of the new Mental Health Nurse, medication administration, monitoring and metabolic monitoring will be available immediately in the field.