A pilot program in the Halifax area will provide an alternative to first responders for people dealing with mental health crises.
Crisis Assistance and Response – or CARE – was launched Oct. 6 to serve residents of Dartmouth, Woodlawn and Cole Harbour.
The new community crisis service will provide in-person support for people 16 and older experiencing non-emergency, non-violent crises related to mental health, substance use and personal well-being.
CARE will offer a safe, trauma-informed alternative to calling police or other first responders when they aren’t the best choice in a particular situation.
CARE staff are trained in trauma-informed care, harm reduction, mental health first aid, suicide prevention and cultural humility.
According to a release from the Halifax Regional Municipality, staff will be prepared to respond “respectfully and effectively to people from diverse communities, including African-Nova Scotians, Indigenous Peoples, 2SLGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse residents.”
During the pilot phase, the CARE team will operate Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. In January, the service is expected to expand to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To access CARE, a person calls 211. From there, a trained navigator will assess the situation, determine if it qualifies for CARE, and if it does, dispatch a mobile CARE team from Souls Harbour Rescue Mission.
For more information about CARE, visit their website.
