• telephone crisis response
• walk-in services
• mobile crisis outreach
• crisis residential services
• psychiatric emergency/medical crisis services.

These services reduce unnecessary hospitalization and improve quality of life for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis through symptom relief and access to on-going support to prevent future crises.

Services must be integrated and coordinated within the broader mental health system to meet differing needs, including those of individuals currently accessing other mental health services as well as those accessing the mental health system for the first time through crisis response services.

This text is taken from the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care’s document entitled “Crisis Response Service Standards.”

Peel Region has all the services described in the opening paragraph. The newest programs available to the Region are emergency residential services, known as “safe beds” and a mobile crisis response team working directly with police called COAST (Crisis Outreach And Support Team) Peel. While CMHA/Peel doesn’t provide these newer services, the Branch acts as a “paymaster” for them. This means that the Branch, on behalf of the Ministry, flows the money to providers and in certain cases, ensures that Ministry reporting requirements are met.

The “safe beds” program provides temporary shelter for mentally ill people who have recently been or are likely to become involved with the criminal justice system. This program is administered by Supportive Housing in Peel which accepts referrals from:

• Mobile Crisis of Peel (COAST Peel)
• Trillium Health Centre Crisis Intervention Teams
• William Osler Health Centre Crisis Intervention Teams
• Credit Valley Hospital Crisis Intervention Teams
• Maplehurst/Vanier Correction Centres.

CMHA/Peel has also partnered with Peel Regional Police and Saint Elizabeth Health Care to set up COAST (Crisis Outreach And Support Team) Peel. Operating as a mobile unit, it consists of a regulated mental health professional and a non-uniformed police officer specifically trained to deal with mental health issues. COAST is currently available in Peel Region between 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. by calling Mobile Crisis of Peel at 905-278-9036.

Specialized services to agencies serving clients who have concurrent disorders, co-occurring mental illness and substance use, are also under development. The aim is to help agency staff already working with clients who have a concurrent disorder, prevent and avert crisis and as such, use of crisis services.

As with Early Intervention services highlighted in the Services section of the web site, the Branch is working with local crisis and emergency service providers to further develop and enhance the coordination of these services with existing ones. As more detailed information becomes available about eligibility and access becomes available, it will be posted here. In the meantime, contact info@cmhapeel.ca and your inquiry will be directed as appropriate.