Ottawa will be getting a new emergency number for mental health crises

Ottawa city council has approved a plan to create a mental health emergency dispatch line and mobile crisis team that will be available 24/7, similar to 9-1-1.

Ottawa city council has approved a plan to create a mental health emergency dispatch line and mobile crisis team that will be available 24/7, similar to 9-1-1.

The goal is to establish a new number that residents can call other than the police. A non 9-1-1 phone number would triage calls and dispatch response. A 24/7 mobile team would respond and be led by civilian professionals with expertise in mental health and substance use crises. The city says non-uniform responders would offer trauma informed and culturally appropriate crisis response services.

Council was unanimous in its support for the new program.

The program will initially run for three years in one specific area of the city that has not yet been determined, starting in 2024.

Community Services Committee chair Coun. Laura Dudas told Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron that she was pleased council was unanimous in its approval of the program, but she is also hopeful it can be implemented sooner.

"This will really free up police officers to do other roles they need to be on, and it's going to send the right experts to the right people when they need it," she said. "Several of my colleagues, myself included, are concerned that the timelines are too long, that we need to see this implemented as quickly as possible, but I also want to be very clear that we need to do this properly… This is too important to fail."

A motion by Coun. Ariel Troster, which was also unanimously supported, would place Dudas or committee vice-chair Coun. Jessica Bradley on the guiding council that will develop the launch of the program.