Emotionally Distrubed Persons

Question 1

What does Section 33 of the MHA direct?

Answer 1

A police officer or other person who takes a person in custody to a psychiatric facility shall remain at the facility and retain custody of the person until the facility takes custody of him or her in the prescribed manner.

Question 2

Community Referral Police Access Line
A community based Mental Health & Justice Services police only access line is available to provide police officers with assistance when dealing with what? (2)

Answer 2

• any individual aged sixteen (16) or older who is believed to be emotionally disturbed and at a significant risk of involvement with the criminal justice system, and
• who has not been apprehended under the MHA

Question 3

The MCIT program is a collaborative partnership between participating hospitals and the Toronto Police Service. The program partners a specially trained police officer and a mental health nurse that may assist in responding to calls for service involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.

The MCIT will assist responding officers with what? (4)

Answer 3

• assessing the situation
• attempting to stabilize and diffuse the crisis
• providing supportive counselling as needed
• connecting the individual to appropriate follow-up services

Question 4

Where a police officer investigating an Emotionally Disturbed Person (EDP) observes verbal or behavioural cues (e.g. mute, passive, suicidal, yelling, hearing voices) OR receives information that would lead the officer to believe that a person is apparently suffering from a mental disorder, they shall be guided by s. __ and s. __ of the MHA.

Answer 4

17 and 33

Question 5

if background checks indicate that the person has a history of violence or use of weapons, notify the Specialized Emergency Response – Emergency Task Force (ETF)
NOTE:
It will be at the discretion of _________ as to whether they will attend.

Answer 5

the Supervisory Officer – ETF

Question 6

Police Officer

If the MCIT is not available, and the suspected EDP is aged sixteen (16) or older and has not been apprehended under the MHA shall do what? (2)

Answer 6

• contact the Community Referral Police Access Line for support
• record the information in their memorandum book

Question 7

Police Officer

If the MCIT is not available and the suspected EDP is under sixteen (16) years of age shall

Answer 7

• record the information in their memorandum book
• determine if this is a child in need of protection under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act
• comply with Procedure 04–41, as appropriate

Question 8

If difficulty is experienced when having a person examined/admitted to a hospital a police officer __________ (may do 2 things and shall do one thing)

Answer 8

• may request a second opinion from another physician or psychiatrist on call
• may attend another hospital, if necessary
• shall submit a TPS 649 to the Unit Commander detailing the problem

Question 9

Officer in Charge

Upon receipt of an original Form – MHA, which has not been executed shall ensure what? (3)

Answer 9

• compliance with item 14
• every effort is made to apprehend the suspected EDP named in the Form – MHA
• the original Form – MHA is maintained at the front desk until the suspected EDP is apprehended or until the Form – MHA has expired