The Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT) is a collaboration between Kingston Police and the Addiction and Mental Health Service – KFLA (AMHS)
The Kingston Police/AMHS Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT) is a team consisting of a sworn member of Kingston Police and an AMHS crisis responder who are specifically trained to respond to individuals in crisis situations. Officials and mental health workers ride together in squad cars and respond to service requests related to individuals suffering from a mental illness or developmental disability who can benefit from the collective community response.
MCRRTs are sent through the Kingston Police Department Communications Centre. These teams will collectively respond to 911 and mental health-related calls and will be available from 7am to 4am, seven days a week. MCRRT teams are dispatched as needed to answer and follow up to 911 calls to better support individuals in crisis and divert individuals from emergency rooms where possible. The primary purpose of all MCRRT teams is to facilitate and encourage effective and compassionate care for emotionally distressed individuals, their families and the community.
MCRRT team (left to right) Tracy, Josh and Erin
Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST)
Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST) refers to the collaborative teamwork consisting of an assigned, non-uniformly sworn officer from the Kingston Police Vulnerable Sector Unit and the AMHS crisis responders. This team provides outreach and follow-up on more complex calls generated by Kingston Police Frontline Response, AMHS service calls or community generated calls. This approach provides shared community support for more complex cases of people living with a mental illness or developmental disability who may need additional community support and/or resources. This team is primarily reached by community authorities via the AMHS Crisis Line, 613-544-4229, and members of Kingston Police can refer directly to COAST from the patrol level.
Crisis-proof bed program
The Crisis Safe Bed program, provided by AMHS, is supportive, short-term placement in a mental health residential facility for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis who have come into contact with the police. This program aims to provide individuals with comprehensive, community-based support, distract individuals from the justice system and possible incarceration, and/or avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. This 24/7 community crisis service allows individuals to reside in the Crisis Safe Bed for 30-day intervals when they need short-term stabilization but do not meet criteria for hospitalization. Admission to the crisis-proof bed is only possible through direct referrals via police presence to urgent psychiatric emergency services.
Here is a list of the walk-in crisis services and mobile crisis services offered by AMHS
