^@^ina (Irina Patrascu Gheorghita ) - Foter - CC BY
Text of HOPE and white rose
It’s hard to believe that Oakville is facing a youth mental health crisis, but the reality is that mental health disorders in youth is a critical area of concern and it’s growing quickly. It’s been reported that one in five Ontarians, under the age of 17, has a mental health disorder that significantly impairs their ability to function in the community. This number is expected to increase by 50% internationally in the next five years.
According to Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner, police face mental health issues on a regular basis. Service calls related to mental health and suicide were almost 25 per cent higher in 2014 than in the two previous years.
In response to this crisis Halton Police have developed C.O.A.S.T., Crisis Outreach and Support Team where healthcare workers and police officers are trained in mental health and crisis intervention work. This training also helps to prevent emergency situations and connect clients with Oakville organization that can address their needs.
Often families are struggling to cope with a child’s mental illness and don’t know where to turn but the police. C.O.A.S.T. is designed to support families with frontline plain clothed officers and social worker who can provide professional, sensitive and safe support.
C.O.A.S.T. supports individuals and families both on the phone along with home visits. Their goal is to come up with a long term plan to assist their clients whether it’s by finding them a place to live, if they have none, or by checking in on clients consistently to ensure that
emergency room visits are reduced if not prevented.
If you or a loved one is facing mental health illness and struggling to cope, C.O.A.S.T. is
there to support you. Their 24/7 C.O.A.S.T. crisis line is 1-877-825-9011 and there are mobile units that can be dispatched to you if you are in crisis. It’s important to note that C.O.A.S.T. is not meant to be an emergency response unit. In a life-threatening situation always call 911.
