The Canadian Mental Health Association of Alberta Southeast Region (CMHA ASER) is pleased to announce the development of an alternative crisis response program in our community, entitled “Community Assisted Response (CARE)”, that will respond to low-risk mental health emergency calls, and help to decriminalize the response to mental illness, addiction, and homelessness.

Funding for the initiative was provided by the Government of Alberta Civil Society Fund who have contributed $451,000 over 1 year towards a pilot project that will be led by CMHA ASER, in partnership with the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS).

“Alberta’s government recognizes homelessness often intersects with mental health and addictions and new and innovative responses are needed to make sure vulnerable Albertans can get appropriate supports, with compassion and dignity,” says Jason Luan, Minister of Community and Social Services. “This is an exciting project will make a big difference in this community and potentially around the province. I’m pleased to support this project through the Civil Society Fund and I look forward to learning how it improves access to supports for vulnerable people.”

Currently the MHPS are often called to be the primary first responders to many low-risk mental health emergency calls for service, welfare checks, and intoxicated person calls. When police respond to these calls, it leaves them with less time to respond to more serious criminal matters and at times the presence of a uniformed police officer can be triggering to the person in crisis and may escalate the problem. It also can result in the criminalization of mental illness, addictions, and homelessness. For these reasons, it is recognized nationwide that an alternative crisis response would provide a more effective response and more appropriately utilize available resources.

In response to this need, CMHA ASER and the MHPS have partnered on the development of a Medicine Hat CARE team that will employ two teams of mental health first-responders who will responds to low-risk emergency calls for service where there are no weapons or indication of violence involved and the individuals in crisis are not displaying any signs of aggression. The goal of the team will be to provide support to individuals experiencing mental illness, addiction, and homelessness and assist them with system-navigation so that they may most efficiently access available programs in our community of care in Medicine Hat.

“Each year the MHPS responds to an estimated 800 calls for service that are not criminal in nature and would be better suited the expertise of mental health professionals,” says Inspector Brent Secondiak of the MHPS. “The addition of the CARE team will allow our officers to focus their efforts on serious criminal matters impacting public safety and will better provide persons in crisis with the support they need.”

“I am very grateful for all the work done previously to facilitate this new team to be ready to hit the streets offering care and support to the citizens of Medicine Hat,” says Lyndon Grunewald, Executive Director of Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Southeast Region. I believe the service will provide a valuable resource to those seeking assistance in their mental wellness journey. We all strive for good mental wellness and the board, staff, volunteers and peers at the CMHA-ASER office are committed to serving our communities with support, connection, training and now community outreach.”

Media Contact:
Rita Sittler
Administrative Services Manager
Medicine Hat Police Service 
Ph: 403-529-8416