New mobile mental health crisis team coming to Barrie with $2.7M boost from the province

The Ontario government is investing $2.7 million in a new mobile mental health crisis team focused on helping those experiencing homelessness or crises.

The Community Alternative Response Engagement (CARE) team will work with local emergency services to offer interventions and connect people with ongoing care to reduce the need for emergency room visits and divert calls away from the police.

"This unique model will help to address the needs of our community and provide care for those in crisis in a dignified and patient-focused manner while helping to ease the burden on emergency services," said Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey.

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Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall said the initiative is an important step in addressing the mental health, addiction, and homelessness crises.

"This funding is an important step forward in getting people the support they need and creating a safer community for all," he said.

The CARE team is part of a broader provincial pilot program, with a total investment of $8 million over three years.

Locally, the partnership includes the County of Simcoe, Simcoe County Paramedic Services, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), and the Barrie police.

"We look forward to supporting this team as they begin serving the community," noted Police Chief Rich Johnston.

Jane Sinclair, general manager of the County's health and emergency services, believes the program will help address the growing challenges many face across the region.

"By implementing 'treat and refer' and 'alternative destination' options for adult patients, we can effectively divert individuals to the appropriate services, ensuring they receive the comprehensive care they truly deserve," Sinclair said.

"This program is more than just a service. It's a promise to our residents that they will receive the care they need, precisely when they need it," added CMHA's branch director of service operations.

The mobile crisis response team is expected to launch later this year.