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PRP launch new Mental Health and Addiction Strategy (M.H.A.S)

Nov. 30, 2021, Mississauga, Ont. – A working group comprised of community partner agencies in the area of addiction and mental health have contributed to the development of the Peel Regional Police Mental Health and Addiction Strategy (M.H.A.S.).

A significant portion of an officer’s day-to-day contacts are with individuals struggling with mental health or addiction. In 2020, officers responded to 5,950 calls for mental health and addiction, an average of 16 calls per day. The community is better served when people in need of mental health and addiction supports are able to access assistance from community health and social service programs best positioned to meet their needs.

Peel Regional Police is committed to applying a Community Safety Well-Being lens to everything they do, putting collaboration and partnerships at the forefront of their service delivery model. It sets a foundation for ongoing engagement with community partners, and provides opportunities to improve how they respond to mental health and addiction.

The M.H.A.S. is developed around five key areas of focus as identified by the working group:

Building on a foundation of support for mental health and addiction through strategic enhancements; expanding the PRP knowledge base of mental health and addiction through education, training and awareness opportunities; enhancing PRP’s evidence base through academic research, data and ongoing evaluation; focusing on the well-being of the PRP employees; and, ongoing collaboration, planning and action for the development of future initiatives as part of a flexible approach.

Through continued collaboration, PRP is confident that they will realize their collective vision of providing superior, sustainable, and inclusive services to those affected by mental health and addiction.