Expanded crisis care service provides alternative to police response in Halifax

A crisis response service in Dartmouth has expanded to provide in-person, mental health support 24/7.

The Halifax Regional Municipality expanded their pilot project community crisis care service on Monday.

“It’s an alternative response to police response. Through studies with the city, they have determined that not every crisis call needs a police response,” says Matthew Reid, Soul’s Harbour Rescue Mission mobile ministries director.

Crisis Assistance and Response (CARE) launched last October to provide in-person support for people 16 years and older who experience non-emergency, non-violent crises related to mental health, substance use and personal wellbeing.

To access the services, you call 211 and a caretaker will screen the call and provide phone support. If the call taker feels in person support is needed, teams are dispatched and head to the location.

“It can be anywhere from food support to unhoused, to life is really big right now and I need additional resources to survive to make it through. If the call taker determines that, hey, we cannot provide all these supports and resources needed to the person’s crisis, we then get dispatched by a call to 211 and we are wheels in motion and going to show up with our team and provide support, hear their story and be a listening ear and help point them in the right direction,” says Reid.

Danielle Firth is a crisis diversion worker with the CARE team. After joining, the workers go through weeks of trauma, mental health and sensitivity training.

“Basically, anything that is not a danger to ourselves or them. We can do suicidal ideation, if someone’s under the influence and just walking the streets, someone is yelling distressed we can go and make sure they are ok and check on them,” says Firth.

When the job was first posted, Firth felt it was a great opportunity for her and a service that was needed in the community. She is one of four workers on staff Tuesday. She says they operate in pairs.

“It feels great. I feel like I can give back to my community and do what I really have a passion for, which is helping people,” adds Firth.

The plan was for this service to always operate around the clock, and this Monday they made the jump to 24/7 support.

“Since the service was just being launched it was important that we have a soft launch that starts gradually and then expand the service that way we are able to learn and test the system,” says Bamidele Bello, Halifax Regional Municipality community safety alternative response manager.

Teams currently respond to calls in Dartmouth, Cole Harbour, and Woodlawn.

“This service is needed. We had a number of engagements before the service was launched. The response that we got, the feedback that we got, is the community needs a service that is devoid of police response and since we launched that has been taken with open arms,” says Bello.

As now, Soul’s Harbour Rescue Mission is the only service operator for CARE. The pilot’s success will determine the next steps.

“The goal is to ensure that everyone is satisfied with the service. The pilot will be evaluated by the council and they will decide if there will be an expansion of the geographical area,” says Bello.

The free service is available to both those experiencing or witnessing a crisis.

-With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Sean Mott

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