Ontario Connecting People in Lambton County to Mobile Mental Health Services

Press Release

May 08, 2024

WYOMING — The Ontario government is investing more than $2.5 million over three years to launch a new mobile crisis response team in Lambton County to make it easier and more convenient for people experiencing homelessness or mental health and addictions crisis to get the support they need. This is one of three innovative pilot programs the government is launching that use mobile crisis response teams to expand access to specialized addictions care in the community, avoiding unnecessary visits to emergency departments and police involvement.

“People facing mental health and addictions crisis require immediate response and help connecting to longer-term care options,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Our government is funding innovative programs like this one in Lambton County as a critical step to filling gaps in mental health and addictions care, addressing the surge in demand for substance use services and helping ensure vulnerable people connect to high-quality care where and when they need it.”

The mobile crisis response team is expected to launch later this year and will consist of community paramedicine and mental health crisis workers that can provide immediate mental health and addictions support and options for ongoing care, including:

  • On-scene interventions and de-escalation
  • Referrals to treatment, community mental health supports, housing and other support agencies
  • Connections to primary care providers and access to withdrawal management beds
  • Wound care, health and wellness checks, medication supports, warming, cooling and harm reduction supplies, education on first aid and infection control
  • Early intervention with individuals experiencing homelessness or mental health crisis and members of other marginalized communities to help address medical and social concerns before they require emergency health or police response.

“Our government is making bold and innovative changes to the health system to improve access to mental health and addictions services that better reflect the needs of people and their families who are experiencing mental health and substance use challenges,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By investing in targeted services like mobile crisis response teams, we are breaking down barriers to mental health and addictions care in communities across the province, saving trips to hospital emergency departments and police involvement for emergencies.”

With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government has significantly expanded addictions services and increased the number of treatment beds across the province, helping thousands of Ontarians access enhanced specialized services for mental health and addictions treatment, including in rural, Northern and Indigenous communities.

Quick Facts

  • The Corporation of the County of Lambton will be working in collaboration with several partners, including Sarnia and Ontario Provincial Police, Lambton Public Health, Canadian Mental Health Association, social service agencies, Rapids family health team, the Sarnia Lambton Ontario Health Team and Bluewater Health to provide support and interventions across the county, including Lambton’s rural areas.
  • The government is investing up to $8 million over three years through the Addictions Recovery Fund for three pilot mobile crisis response teams in Lambton County, Thunder Bay and Simcoe County.
  • Each health-led model of mobile crisis response team will be implemented as a community paramedicine program and will not impact 9-1-1 ambulance services, including dispatch.
  • Ontario continues to expand successful 9-1-1 patient care models that provide paramedics more flexibility to treat certain patients who call 9-1-1, at home or on-scene in the community. There are currently over 200 patient care models being led by 56 paramedic services across the province that are now approved to provide more appropriate and timely care options for eligible 9-1-1 patients in the community, instead of in the emergency department.
  • Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to fill gaps in mental health and addictions care, create new services and expand programs through Roadmap to Wellness.
  • As part of Budget 2024, Building a Better Ontario, the government is investing an additional $396 million over three years to improve access and expand existing mental health and addictions services and programs. This includes an investment of $124 million over three years to continue to support the Addictions Recovery Fund and ensure people can connect to enhanced specialized mental health and addictions treatment they need.

Quotes

“Thanks to the leadership of the Premier, and the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, our government continues to take swift action to address the challenges of mental health and addictions facing communities across the province. I am extremely grateful that our government is investing in the new mobile crisis response team in Lambton County.”
– Bob Bailey
MPP for Sarnia- Lambton

“Today’s announcement is great news for the County of Lambton and our community partners, and we are excited to launch this innovative pilot program. Pairing crisis workers alongside paramedics through the Community Health Integrated Care program will provide a new level of care within our community and support the needs of our residents.”

– Kevin Marriott
Warden, County of Lambton

“Funding for the new Community Health Integrated Care Pilot will provide much needed support 7 days a week, 12 hours per day, to connect some of our most marginalized residents in Lambton County to the most appropriate care. This is a great example of how paramedics, working in collaboration with our partners in the health, social and justice system, can deliver community based care outside of the traditional 911 model.”

– Anita Trusler
Crisis System Navigation Manager, Lambton EMS

“Caring for the mental health and well-being of our community requires innovative and collaborative approaches. Through this partnership, we can reach individuals where they are, building trust and providing crucial support to navigate the health-care system. Our aim is to engage with patients early – before their conditions become complex – ensuring they receive timely, appropriate care. I am eager to see the positive impact this initiative will have on the lives of those we serve.”

– Donna Morreau
Integrated Director, Mental Health & Addiction Services, Bluewater Health & CMHA Lambton-Kent

“We are absolutely thrilled to be collaborating with Lambton EMS and Bluewater Health to bring the CHIC team to our community. One of our strategic goals at the Sarnia-Lambton OHT is to reimagine community-based care. It is imperative that we continue to find new ways to bring healthcare to our community, creating ease of access for our most vulnerable populations, when and where that care is needed most.”

– Nadine Neve
Executive Lead, Sarnia-Lambton OHT

Additional Resources

Related Topics

Health and Wellness
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Media Contacts

Hannah Jensen
Minister Jones’ Office
Hannah.R.Jensen@ontario.ca

Anna Miller
Communications Branch
media.moh@ontario.ca
416-314-6197

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