The Government of Nova Scotia is expanding its program aimed at helping first responders dealing with mental health or substance use crises on the job. The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is expanding to the eastern health zone of the province, which includes Antigonish and Guysborough counties and Cape Breton Island. CIT has been operating in the central and northern zones for several years. The province is spending $700,000 for the new eastern expansion. Through the model, police and other first responders can receive specialized training aimed at helping them recognize and respond to someone experiencing a crisis. Minister of Justice Scott Armstrong emphasizes the importance of the training and de-escalation techniques within the model. “Police officers are often the first people called when someone is experiencing a crisis, and having the right training can make a big difference in how that situation unfolds,” he says in a government news release. He says the training will help promote safer outcomes for first responders as well as those in crisis, something echoed by Minister of Addictions and Mental Health Brian Comer. “Nova Scotians deserve a response that recognizes what they are going through,” Comer adds. “This expansion means more people will get the right support when they need it most.” The provincial NDP seems to agree with the benefits of the CIT model, but suggests there’s more work to be done. “While it’s good to see first responders getting more support to help people in crisis, people in Cape Breton shouldn’t have to reach a crisis point to get help,” says Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier MLA Kendra Coombes in a statement. “The reality is too many Cape Bretoners still can’t access mental health and addictions services, and families are worried about loved ones who can’t get the support they need.” She says the Houston government promised universal mental health care five years ago, yet many Nova Scotians are still in the dark. “People in Cape Breton are still waiting weeks or even months for help. They deserve to know that when they reach out for support, someone will be there for them,” says Coombes. The CIT model also provides responders with access to health-care professionals through a dedicated phone line for urgent guidance and support during an incident. According to the government, planning is also underway to bring the model to the western health zone, which includes Annapolis Valley, the South Shore and southwest counties. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
