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Letter: Police mental health partnership amounts to PR until real issues addressed

‘I know many people who have tried hard to find mental health support in this community and have failed’
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The Greater Sudbury Police Service recently announced its partnership with CMHA and the hospital to provide on-site mental health services to people in crisis. 

Although this program is an amazing step forward for the city and for the community as a whole, there are still major issues that need to be considered. 

First: what determines who gets the mental health unit and who doesn't? Consistency is important for these types of programs to ensure that EVERYONE is treated equally. It is unfair to have one person who has attracted the attention of the police on drugs to receive charges and an arrest, while another gets mental health treatment and sent to the hospital. 

The second issue is: what about all the people who are currently being routed through the criminal justice system who have had negative interactions with the police while struggling with a mental health crisis or who were struggling with addiction issues? 

It must seem like a real slap in the face to see that the police have finally implemented this program (far after many communities across the province have been doing it) while you're stressing with criminal charges over your head.

The last issue that really comes to mind is "what programs will be made available to people on site?” 

The current system of "catch and release" isn't working. People being dropped off at detox programs or the hospital is not the solution. 

The only way that we're going to reduce the overall rates of mental health / addiction crisis calls in this city is to find LONG TERM, holistic solutions that focus on the overall wellness of people who are struggling.

I know many people who have tried hard to find mental health support in this community and have failed. 

Until the housing, mental health and social welfare shortages in Sudbury are truly addressed, this effort by the police really just amounts to really nice media publicity.

Jennifer Stradda

Sudbury