A new OPP role will help connect people experiencing crisis with the services that can help.
The Oxford OPP has created a new role called the Abuse Issues Community Mobilization to help ensure the right agency is contacted during certain incidents.
Constable Lisa Narancsik tells Heart FM why this position was created.
"I think it's a growing need. You always hear people talking about mental health issues in the community, it is a hot topic, and as the police we are seeing that we are responding to a lot more calls that are not necessarily police issues but we are kind of the first stop for people when they are looking for help. This is going to allow us to join and have a lot of good partnerships with community organizations to get people to where they should be instead of having police respond."
Narancsik says her job is to look at the service calls to the OPP and see if other community outreach organizations need to be contacted.
"We have a lot of organizations that we do get to pair up with in the community: it could be the mental health association, community care access, could be Children's Aid, or it could be walk in counselling clinics. I think because we are the first stop, everyone knows 9-1-1 and who to call for help. So for example if someone just happens to be in a crisis moment, could be someone who just lost their job and they're feeling down and having some difficulties dealing with it and they know our number - so police will respond and maybe be able to link the person in with walk in counselling or get them to the hospital if that's what they need or just be the contact point to get the crisis worker to attend at that moment."

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