Police crisis team expanding in Saskatoon, Regina

The Police and Crisis Team program is expanding in Saskatchewan’s two largest cities.

The program — PACT for short — is a collaboration between the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the provincial government and police in order to respond to mental health emergencies in a new way. The initiative pairs police officers with mental health professionals, and they work as a mobile team to help stabilize people who are experiencing a crisis.

According to the provincial government, the goal of the PACT program is “to provide appropriate care for individuals who would be better served in the community, reducing emergency room visits and helping to keep clients who are facing a mental health crisis out of the criminal justice system.”

The province announced a new investment of $468,800 into the PACT program Friday, which will be used to fund an additional police position for both Saskatoon and Regina and help fund the paired mental health positions as well.

Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME file photo)

Christine Tell, Saskatchewan’s minister of corrections, policing and public safety, said the province is always looking for innovative ways to help those who are undergoing a crisis.

“The PACT program expansion will ensure that more clients are connected to the community supports they need, creating better outcomes for them and reducing emergency health care and police service requests,” Tell said in a statement.

In 2021-22, the ministry said PACT teams were involved in 4,676 police calls, performed more than 5,000 assessments and diverted more than 1,300 people from emergency rooms.

The program received $2.833 million in funding in the recent provincial budget.

Everett Hindley, Saskatchewan’s minister of mental health and addictions, said the program is a game-changer.

“Police and Crisis Teams continue to change the way mental health situations are handled by successfully connecting patients to enhanced community services,” Hindley said in a statement.

“The addition of members to the Regina and Saskatoon teams reflects our government’s commitment to improving access to mental health services for Saskatchewan residents.”

Troy Cooper, Saskatoon’s police chief, echoed Hindley’s comments, saying the PACT initiative helps take pressure off police officers, who are responding to more calls than ever.

“By sharing experience and information with our crisis partners, we reduce the potential for an arrest and decrease the use of emergency rooms. Our teams saw a 38 per cent increase in dispatched calls last year, and this funding will provide for a new team and expanded coverage,” Cooper said in a statement.