Jennifer McCarron, interim Charlottetown police chief, says mental health calls to police have fallen, but well-being checks are rising. Photo by Logan MacLean /The GuardianArticle contentOver the last year, mental health calls to police in Charlottetown have fallen.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe department releases monthly police stats, with a section that breaks down mental health calls into well-being checks, attempts or threats of suicide and incidents involving the Mental Health Act.Article contentArticle contentJennifer McCarron, interim police chief, says the drop is in part related to the role of the non-police mobile mental health unit and the police department’s community well-being team.Article contentArticle contentThose groups work with vulnerable people in the community to build relationships and take action before problems reach a crisis point, McCarron said in an Oct. 28 Guardian interview.Article content“If we go on a call and they’re not actively suicidal but do need extra resources, we can ask the mobile mental health unit to check in on them.”Article contentWhile these still show up as calls to police in the data, the way these teams respond helps keep the total down, she said.Article contentThey can refer residents in need to other mental health and social services, while the police department’s community well-being and outreach units try to proactively help clients before getting calls.Article contentThis has brought down recidivism, or the pattern of several calls coming from one person on a regular basis, McCarron said.Article contentAnother factor is the relocation of the homeless and addiction services, now centralized on Park Street.Article contentArticle contentWhen the outreach centre was on Euston Street, clients were effectively on display for the public and facing stigma, she said.Article contentArticle content“Now, where the outreach has moved, people who are looking for help are more likely to go because they’re not in the spotlight right downtown where people are watching.”Article contentBridge tableArticle contentMcCarron also mentioned something called the bridge table, which brings together social service organizations and emergency service providers a couple times each week. This helps break down silos and be proactive when they know a client is in serious need, she said.Article content“We find, with someone who is struggling and you have no idea what their needs are, you can bring them to the bridge table and they have the professionals there that can say, OK this person needs x, y and z, and this is how we’re going to make it happen.”Article contentAsked about the overall trend, McCarron believes it is more of a return to a norm after the pandemic than an overall drop in need.
Mental health calls to Charlottetown police down, but well-being checks up
