Canadian CIT/CRT Deployment Overview

In Canada, Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) and Co-Response Teams (CRTs) are implemented by police services to address mental health issues. These teams often consist of police officers and mental health professionals working together. The teams can be deployed in various ways such as an officer-mental health practitioner pair, an on-call crisis team, or a combination of both.

Most police departments in Canada (80%) rely on frontline officers to initiate requests for CIT/CRT intervention. These requests are primarily initiated by the officers on the ground who encounter individuals in need of mental health support.

The makeup of CIT/CRT teams varies across different police services in Canada based on factors like officer assignment and rotation. Some services rely on volunteers while others assign officers specifically to these teams. Some services utilize a combination of both.

After serving on CIT/CRT teams, officers sometimes rotate into other roles within the police department, while others remain on the team indefinitely. The duration of an officer's time on the team varies, but typically, the team consists of officers who are experienced and well-trained to handle mental health situations.

Challenges faced by Canadian CRTs include the high volume of calls for service and the chronic nature of mental health issues. This often leads to a heavy workload for CRT members.

The effectiveness of CRTs in responding to mental health incidents can be impacted by the duration of hospital wait times, leading to potential delays in receiving appropriate care and support for individuals in need.

A system where police and mental health professionals work together to respond to mental health crises.

A team solely comprised of mental health professionals, dedicated to responding to mental health crises.

The makeup of the team, which may vary depending on the specific needs of the community and the type of response.

Difficulties encountered by CRTs, such as high demand, limited resources, and operational hurdles.

An individual's frequent contact with police due to recurring mental health crises.

The availability of support services like mental health facilities and community resources.

The time period during which the team is operational, which may impact its effectiveness.

The number and type of personnel available to staff the team.

The financial resources allocated to support the team's operations.

The amount of time patients spend waiting for treatment in emergency rooms.

A significant increase in the number of calls for service related to mental health issues.

Repeated calls for service involving the same individual(s) experiencing mental health issues.

The challenge of navigating different jurisdictions for individuals experiencing mental health issues, especially when they move frequently.

Limited capacity in local hospitals to accommodate individuals experiencing mental health crises.

Lack of specialized facilities and staff to manage individuals experiencing severe mental health problems, like drug-induced psychosis.

The absence of community-based mental health resources and support structures for individuals who may not meet the criteria for involuntary treatment.

The difficulty of providing immediate support to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis due to limited availability of mental health professionals.

The challenges faced in providing resources and support to individuals experiencing homelessness or unstable housing.

The importance of meeting basic needs, such as housing and nutrition, as a foundation for successful mental health treatment.

The difficulty in providing mental health assistance to individuals who are not eligible for involuntary mental health treatment.

The practice of providing temporary assistance, such as coffee and a warm place, to individuals in immediate need.

The challenges of coordinating care for individuals who move between multiple jurisdictions and receive mental health services in different places.

The importance of recognizing and addressing the underlying social factors that contribute to mental health challenges.

The need for police officers to be equipped with the skills and resources to handle calls related to mental health issues.

Long wait times for mental health services can lead to repeated calls to police before individuals receive necessary treatment.

The hours of operation for Crisis Response Teams (CRTs) can be limited, leaving frontline officers responsible for mental health calls during non-coverage times.

Large jurisdictions can pose a challenge for CRTs, as they may not be able to effectively cover a wide geographic area, leading to delays in response.

Insufficient funding and staffing limit the ability of CRTs to expand their services and reach more individuals in need.

The lack of readily available data and research on CRT effectiveness makes it difficult to demonstrate their impact and secure funding.

The importance of research partnerships between police and academia to collect data and evaluate the effectiveness of CRTs.

The co-response model, where police officers work alongside mental health professionals, is an evidence-based approach to addressing mental health concerns.

Frontline officers face the responsibility of responding to mental health calls during non-coverage times, placing additional burden on them.

CRT officers are often on leave or unavailable, leading to understaffing and limited ability to respond to calls for service.

Management recognizes the need for expanded CRT services but faces budgetary constraints.

Co-response teams are often working to mitigate the impact of long wait times for mental health services.

Police departments are not always good at sharing data and information on their programs, hindering research and evaluation of their effectiveness.

CRT officers can help connect individuals in crisis with the appropriate mental health services.

The importance of research and data collection to demonstrate the effectiveness of CRTs and secure funding.

Specialized police units trained to handle individuals experiencing mental health crises. They typically work in conjunction with mental health professionals.

The most common deployment model for CRTs, involving a police officer and a mental health professional working together.

The lack of 24-hour availability for CRTs, leading to frontline officers responding to calls that would be better handled by a CRT.

The practice of assigning CRTs as the initial responders to mental health crises, allowing for immediate engagement with individuals.

The need for more research to understand the effectiveness and implementation of CRTs, particularly on areas such as optimal composition and cost-effectiveness.

The deployment of CRTs as a secondary response, meaning they arrive only after initial police response.

The significant financial burden on police services, making it difficult to implement and expand CRT programs due to budget constraints.

The lack of adequate social support and resources for individuals with mental health issues, leading to challenges for CRTs in providing comprehensive support.

The potential for cost savings by implementing CRT programs due to their ability to prevent escalation of situations and reduce the need for expensive interventions.

The importance of training officers and mental health professionals working in CRTs to ensure effective collaboration and understanding.

The need to develop a stronger evidence base for CRTs in Canada to demonstrate their effectiveness and secure funding for their expansion.

The significant gaps in research on CRTs in Canada, particularly regarding optimal composition, training, and effectiveness.

The impact of high and chronic call volume on CRTs, leading to strain on resources and potential burnout.