HRPS, Halton Healthcare launch mental health support team

By Laura Steiner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter

The Halton Regional Police Service and Halton Healthcare have partnered to launch a pilot Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT) aimed at providing enhanced care to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis across the region.

Under the MCRRT program, a specially trained HRPS officer will be paired with a healthcare professional to jointly respond to urgent mental health calls. The officer’s role is to ensure safety, while the healthcare worker assesses the individual’s needs and recommends next steps.

The team may engage in conversation to de-escalate the situation and provide comfort, or, based on the circumstances, connect the individual to community services offering expert care and recovery resources. Hospitalization will occur only if no other safe or appropriate option exists.

The MCRRT program has three main objectives: ensuring the individual’s first point of contact is with a mental health expert, reducing strain on hospitals and the justice system by diverting individuals to community care, and alleviating demand on HRPS frontline officers to allow response to other emergencies.

The new initiative expands on an existing MCRRT partnership between HRPS and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, which pioneered the crisis response model. Between Jan. 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025, HRPS received 5,476 calls related to mental health and addictions. Of those, 1,739 were answered by the HRPS–St. Joseph’s MCRRT. The Halton Healthcare partnership is expected to handle an additional 10 per cent of annual mental health-related calls.

“Every day, our officers see the tremendous amount of distress experienced by people who are in crisis,” said HRPS Deputy Chief Kevin Maher.

“Though we are always ready to respond, we know healthcare professionals and community services are better equipped to provide robust support. Our hope is that MCRRT programs reduce repeat crises by ensuring individuals receive the care they need, allowing our officers to focus on other emergency calls. This partnership is a win for everyone.”

Claudia Barning, program director of mental health and addictions at Halton Healthcare, said the collaboration marks a meaningful step in improving care for people in crisis.

“By integrating healthcare professionals into these situations, we can offer immediate support and ensure individuals receive timely and appropriate care,” she said.

“Our goal is to reduce the number of repeat crises and help people lead healthier lives. Together, we are creating a safer and more compassionate community.”