Toronto expands non-police crisis response teams to operate 24/7 across all 25 municipal wards, diverting non-violent mental health calls.
Choseno Civic News Desk
Canadian political and civic affairs reporting
TORONTO, Ont. — Mayor Olivia Chow announced that the Toronto Community Crisis Service has achieved full citywide coverage, offering 24/7 dispatched mental health professionals for non-emergency wellness checks.
"When someone is experiencing a mental health emergency, they need compassionate healthcare professionals trained in de-escalation," Chow said at City Hall.
Toronto Police confirmed that the program successfully diverted over 10,000 calls in its trial year, allowing frontline officers to focus on criminal investigations.