Until then, Torontonians experiencing a mental health crisis are still not getting the professional support that can help defuse highly tense situations — situations where police may not be the best to respond. Shortly after, Ejaz Chaudry, a 62-year-old Mississauga man also suffering from a mental health crisis, died after he was fatally shot by police in June 2020. With these crisis calls being a matter of life and death, Campbell added the pressure to build the pilots quickly and correctly is mounting. Police do have their own Mobile Crisis Intervention Team, which consists of trained police officers and crisis nurses who have typically responded to mental health crisis calls. Campbell has also added lobbying for more resources to the broader mental health system in Toronto to her to-do list.

Source: thestar April 25, 2021 12:00 UTC