Mental health crisis teams, more support needed to address the gender-based violence epidemic

HALIFAX – With the recent devastating losses of seven lives to the intimate partner violence epidemic in Nova Scotia, New Democrats are renewing their call for the creation of province-wide mental health crisis teams to offer specialized care and support to people experiencing a mental health crisis.

These teams would create a new type of civilian first responder team with the experience needed to address mental health crises.

“This is something that police and the public have been asking for. Law enforcement is often not the most appropriate, efficient or useful first interaction for people experiencing crisis,” said NSNDP Leader Claudia Chender. “Having another arm of first responders lets police focus on maintaining public safety, while mental health experts can focus on getting people the care and resources they need.”

Emergency mental health responders can provide survivors of intimate partner and gender-based violence with immediate support and care. They also help with prevention by intervening with perpetrators of intimate partner and gender-based violence. Knowing there is another alternative to calling the police would encourage more people at risk of lethal violence to reach out and connect with potentially life-saving resources.

“We know that many survivors of gender-based violence may be hesitant to ask for help because they’re worried about what will happen when dealing with the criminal justice system,” said NSNDP Justice Critic Lina Hamid. “We need a system that offers immediate support for those in crisis situations without relying on police alone.”

Nova Scotia should model our program on the one in Alberta which pairs mental health specialists with police officers who respond to emergency mental health calls.

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