New youth mental health crisis team up and running in Ottawa

A new youth mobile crisis team is up and running in Ottawa. The partnership includes police and the Youth Services Bureau and will operate four days a week, Monday to Thursday.

New youth mental health crisis team up and running in Ottawa Police, Youth Services Bureau part of team operating 4 days a week A new youth mobile crisis team is up and running in Ottawa. The partnership includes police and the Youth Services Bureau and will operate four days a week, Monday to Thursday, from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. The team includes a specially trained officer and a crisis response worker who can be dispatched when a young person is having a mental health crisis such as psychosis, "emotional or behavioural dysregulation," or suicidal thoughts.

"Youth are supported where they live and connect, allowing care to be delivered in familiar environments whenever possible," Ottawa police said in a news release on Tuesday. "Youth crisis workers lead the response by connecting young people and their families to appropriate mental health, health, social, and community services, while police officers provide public safety expertise when safety concerns or elevated risks are present." The bureau said the new team is available through its existing 24/7 crisis support services at 613-260-2360 or chat.ysb.ca.

CHEO, eastern Ontario's children's hospital in Ottawa, and the wide-ranging Kids Come First partnership are also involved with officer training, for example. Part of a broader movement The initiative was announced late last year and bolsters other mental health-focused initiatives such as The Ottawa Hospital's mobile crisis team for adults and the ANCHOR program, which does not involve police. They're part of a broader movement to respond to mental health crises with resources other than police alone.

ANCHOR, for example, was created following the death of Abdirahman Abdi, an Ottawa man who died after a violent altercation with police 10 years ago next week. If you or someone you know is struggling, here are some other places to look for help: - Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988. - Provincial and territorial mental health support.

- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.

- This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about. If you're worried someone you know may be at risk of suicide, the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention recommends talking to them about it. Here are some warning signs: - Suicidal thoughts.

- Substance use. - Purposelessness. - Anxiety.

- Feeling trapped. - Hopelessness and helplessness. - Withdrawal. -

Anger. - Recklessness. - Mood changes.