Breaking down barriers between mental health and policing in N.S.

Both leaders in policing and mental health agree, when situations involving law enforcement and mental illness collide, the response can be complex.

READ MORE: Mental health class now part of training for Halifax police officers

“It’s about making sure that we continue to do what we need to do from a legal perspective but at the same time not at the cost of inflicting more trauma on a person who’s already in crisis,” said Bill Moore, deputy chief of Halifax Regional Police (HRP).

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's about making sure that we continue to do what we need to do from a legal perspective but at the same time not at the cost of inflicting more trauma on a person who's already in crisis," said Bill Moore, deputy chief of Halifax Regional Police (HRP).

Halifax police have more than 500 members and every single officer receives mandatory mental health training through the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA).

“Every new recruit receives three days of solid mental health training,” Mary Pyche said, the program leader for addictions and mental health at the NSHA.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Every new recruit receives three days of solid mental health training," Mary Pyche said, the program leader for addictions and mental health at the NSHA.

Pyche believes HRP officers receive some of the best mental health training in Canada.

“I can say that because we worked with the Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police to look at what minimum standards should be across Canada for law enforcement in mental health training,” she said.

The minimum standard program is used in Nova Scotia and involves four tiers of training facilitated by NSHA’s mental health team.

READ MORE: PACT: The team on the other end of mental health crisis calls

Some officers go on to receive an additional 40 hours of training through a crisis intervention program created in Memphis, Tenn.

The “Memphis Model” provides officers with law enforcement based crisis intervention training.

“Those officers are trained by interacting with people who are experiencing mental illness,” Moore said.  “They also work with psychologists.”

He said every patrol unit has crisis intervention team (CIT) officers and if they’re expertise is required they can be called to a scene at anytime.

READ MORE: Halifax police say no excessive force used in arrest of Breagh Martell

There’s also the Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team (MHMCT) a 24-7 crisis support service that partners mental health professionals with police.

For those in mental health distress, Pyche recommends calling the line immediately.

“Anyone who calls the crisis team gets an immediate risk and safety assessment of what’s going on in the situation. If we feel they need an additional police or ambulance response we will get it for them,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Anyone who calls the crisis team gets an immediate risk and safety assessment of what's going on in the situation. If we feel they need an additional police or ambulance response we will get it for them," she said.

READ MORE: Dartmouth woman alleges Halifax police arrested her for mental health issue

Telephone crisis support and mobile response is offered to anyone in need at 429-8167 or toll-free at 1-888-429-8167.