submitted by OPP
The Grenville County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be receiving approximately $128,000 in grant funding to enhance its Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The grant supports the ongoing need for additional mental health assistance for police calls for service involving individuals and their families experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis, as well as to better leverage local mental health expertise.
The Grenville County OPP MCRT was first established with a Registered Nurse (RN) with Brockville General Hospital (BGH) and an OPP officer. The Team was created in February of 2021 and expanded in late 2022 to include an additional RN and police officer. The Team has been a part of over 1,200 live and follow-up calls for service since its implementation. The Team also conducts Crisis Intervention Training courses in the region and advocates for more collaboration with local agencies to better support community well-being.
“Supporting individuals in a mental health crisis and connecting them to proper resources remains a top priority for our OPP Mobile Crisis Response Team.
Grants such as these will support our Community Safety and Well-Being Plan and ensure our joint community outreach program continues to be an effective and proactive method to respond to mental health issues within our communities.” – Inspector Stephan NEUFELD, Detachment Commander – Grenville County OPP.
“We are proud of our collaboration and the work of our Grenville County OPP MCRT. We know the positive impact that this type of crisis response model can have in supporting an individual in crisis. With this joint response model, we are better able to support community members at the time the crisis is occurring, when the support is needed the most. Funding through grants plays a large part in our ability to expand our model of crisis care in the community and we look forward to being able to continue this great partnership.” – Shawn SOUDER, Director of Mental Health and Community Programs – Brockville General Hospital.
The MCRTs Enhancement Grant is part of Ontario’s Roadmap to Wellness to build Ontario’s mental health and addictions system and further complements the government’s earlier commitments to protect people’s health and enhance mobile crisis intervention teams across the Province to help build a province where all people feel safe and protected.
The Grenville County OPP MCRT serves all of the Grenville County OPP area. You can speak with a Team member by calling either the Prescott OPP location at 613-925-4221 or Kemptville OPP location at 613-258-3441. In all cases requiring emergency assistance, please call 911. For non-emergency assistance, please call 1-888-310-1122.
If you, a family member, or a friend are experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact the 24-hour Brockville General Hospital Crisis Line at 613-345-4600 or 1-866-281-2911 for assistance.
