Police-Encounters-With-People-In-Crisis

done in a manner that limits any further use and disclosure of that information to other
government agencies. Mental health information shared by healthcare providers must
only be accessed and used by the TPS in its capacity as part of the mental health
treatment framework. Privacy concerns regarding the sharing of mental health
information are discussed in greater detail below.
34. The TPS operates a separate Community Referral Police Access Line to provide
police officers with assistance when interacting with any individual above the age of 16
who is believed to be “emotionally disturbed,” at significant risk of involvement with the
criminal justice system, and who has not been apprehended under the Mental Health
Act. This line can connect officers and members of the public with short-term residential
beds at community mental health organizations, referrals to the Mental Health and
Justice Prevention Program operated by four community mental health organizations,
and referrals to other community mental health services. 24
35. Other telephone help lines for use by the police and members of the public exist
as well. For example, the Gerstein Centre operates a telephone support line for people in
crisis that is also available for police officers to consult regarding mental health services
available to people in crisis who they encounter. 25
4. Government involvement
36. Programs by various arms of government are involved in addressing the needs of
people in crisis in some way. The activities of the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety
and Correctional Services (MCSCS), Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MHLTC),
and other levels of government set out below, demonstrate the necessity of greater
cooperation and coordination to address the complex underlying causes that lead to
serious police interactions with people in crisis.
(a) Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
37. MCSCS is significantly involved in the legislative and regulatory areas applicable
to this Review, and its engagement is active and evolving. MCSCS publishes the Ontario
Policing Standards Manual to assist police services in meeting requirements under the
Police Services Act 26 and its regulations by providing guidelines and sample board
policies.
38. The Manual includes “LE-013 Police Response to Persons who are Emotionally
Disturbed or have a Mental Illness or a Developmental Disability,” which sets out basic
guidelines for Ontario police services’ policies and procedures in interacting with people
in crisis, using police powers under the Mental Health Act, taking people in crisis to
hospitals, and providing training that touches on interactions with people in crisis and
24
Toronto Police Service, Procedure 06-04 “Emotionally Disturbed Persons” (Toronto, ON: Toronto Police Service, 2010) [TPS,
“Procedure 06-04”].
25
Gerstein Centre, “Our Service”, online: Gerstein Centre .
26
R.S.O. 1990, c. P.15.
Police Encounters With People in Crisis |90