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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, March 22, 2013 | 16 Giving police inside information to better help those in crisis Continued from page 11 The protocol's goal is to improve the emergency response provided to people experiencing a mental health crisis by diffusing the situation before it escalates to the point where a crime is committed or it becomes necessary for police to take the person to hospital. Police would also prefer to avoid a Mental Health Act apprehension as two police officers who take a mentally ill person to hospital can then be involved at hospital for up to six hours. That said, Biggs noted safety is top priority for police so they will not leave a crisis if they believe someone is a danger to themselves or others. Project Coordinator Sabaah Choudhary of Summit Housing and Outreach Programs said the protocol speaks for people when they may not be able to speak for themselves. She noted a person in crisis may be too disoriented to provide officers with information about what they need or who they can call to get help. "Imagine police coming to the scene and already knowing some of the triggers an individual has or they already know that the person shouldn't be staying with their family during this time, but there is a friend they can stay with," said Choudhary. "That is very powerful information and it helps the individual rather than putting them in a place that might not be best for their awareness and their mental health." Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner said the protocol is an example of how police are always striving, with their partners, to enhance their level of service to everyone. "We find that across Ontario and Canada right now, our frontline police officers are dealing with crime 25 per cent of the time. So 75 per cent of the time, they are dealing with many different issues -- quality of life issues, community issues, but certainly at the front and foremost of those things, are mental health issues," said Tanner. "At 2 a.m., often there are few resources for a person experiencing a crisis except the police who are always there. We will always respond to help in any way we can. So planning for a crisis and allowing the police to have access to that plan can, and will, raise the level of empowerment on the part of the individual and raise the level of understanding of the responding officers." Summit Housing and its partners are hoping to expand the protocol to other agencies that interact with those dealing with mental illness. Any agency interested in giving its clients the option of being part of this protocol, can contact haltoncrisisplanproject@gmail.com. JOIN US SATURDAY, APRIL 6TH Starting at 9am with the living gluten free ribbon cutting! Product demonstrations, sampling, made easy... promotions and a chance to win some great products! GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship 74 Rebecca St Unit 1 ­ Kerr/Rebecca, 289-837-4363 Mon - Wed, Fri 10am-5pm | Thurs 10am-7pm | Sat 9am-5pm "Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass" 905.849.0266 When you replace your Furnace and/or Air Conditioner! * 10 YEAR PARTS & LABOUR WARRANTY JUNE 2014! DO NOT PAY UNTIL ! w o N A ct * 46 years Backed by Coleman's ON SALE!! Too many A to list. Get to your local store HURRY! Sale Ends Sat., March 30th! CLEARANCE Small & Odd Lot EVERY FLOOR in every store End of Quarter Clearance! 2013 FLOORING from 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* *Limited time offer; O.A.C. See store for details First Come, First Served. While supplies last. We Service All Makes of Gas Furnaces · 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE · QUALIFIED MECHANICS · QUALITY WORKMANSHIP · 24 HR. HOTLINE Showroom Hours: QEW Mon-Fri 8 am - 5 pm Oakville Speers Rd Sat 11 am - 4 pm 905-825-1893 hours Showroom Phone: Burlington Lakeshore LakeshoreRd Rd 905-825-1929 905 905-335-3203 2086 Speers Rd. Oakville Bronte Rd Bronte Rd Must be picked up or delivered by Sat, March 30th! 3145 Dundas St W, Mississauga 470 Norfinch Dr, Toronto 1400 O'Connor Dr, Toronto 20 Wilkinson Rd, Brampton 106 Saunders Rd, Barrie 442 Millen Rd, Stoney Creek 1095 Kingston Rd, Pickering Third Line Third Line 19 DE LS NOW! sq.ft. ¢ 59% thru Prefinished Solid Hardwood Flooring up to Special Financing On qualifying purchases made with your Lumber Liquidators credit card account. Minimum monthly payments required. Subject to credit approval. See store for details. LESS Than the big box stores th March 30th APPLEBY SYSTEMS 611 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge 1925 Provincial Rd, Windsor www.applebysystems.ca