Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division CEO Camille Quenneville has been in the news recently as outlets cover how police handle mental health calls.
On the Tuesday, June 9 edition of CBC’s The National, Quenneville said more funding for police mental health training is required, as well as additional funds for mental health services as a way to reduce and prevent crisis situations.
Quenneville was also interviewed by the Canadian Press for a June 4 piece on ‘defunding’ police, in which she highlighted CMHA Elgin-Middlesex’s Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Centre in London as a best practice in supporting individuals in crisis. Centres such this one keep people out of emergency rooms and provide specialized mental health services 24/7.
She also said the mental health system needs to be revamped so fewer people end up in crisis. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, Quenneville said things are likely to get worse, stating, “The mental health crisis isn’t looming, it’s here now and we need to act.”