Sir, you have to put your pants back on.
Approximately one in five contacts with police involved someone with a mental or substance use disorder.
Canadians can come into contact with the police for a variety of reasons, not all of which are criminal in nature. Previous research has indicated that most people with a mental health disorder do not commit criminal acts; however, contact with police is common among this population (Brink et al. 2011; Coleman and Cotton 2014). Furthermore, the frequency of such interactions has been said to be on the rise in recent decades given policy and legislative changes (Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division 2005; Vancouver Police Department 2013; Lurigio and Watson 2010). For instance, while the process of deinstitutionalization shifted the treatment of mental health disorders from a hospital setting to a community setting, it has been argued that community based supports may not have expanded at the same capacity to make up for the loss of institutional services, which can leave police as the first responders in crisis situations or after regular health facility hours (Coleman and Cotton 2014; Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division 2005).
Many people with disabilities rely on social assistance as their primary source of income. In 2006, there were 77,430 people receiving income support through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) with a serious mental illness, representing 1 in 3 ODSP recipients.7 Yet, ODSP rates are significantly lower than what is needed to cover the cost of basic necessities, such as food, clothing, and housing. Many people with mental illness access Ontario Works (OW), the publicly funded income support program for those in temporary financial need, while waiting to be granted ODSP benefits. OW recipients receive roughly half the amount provided to ODSP recipients.
Sir, you have to put your pants back on.
Approximately one in five contacts with police involved someone with a mental or substance use disorder.
Canadians can come into contact with the police for a variety of reasons, not all of which are criminal in nature. Previous research has indicated that most people with a mental health disorder do not commit criminal acts; however, contact with police is common among this population (Brink et al. 2011; Coleman and Cotton 2014). Furthermore, the frequency of such interactions has been said to be on the rise in recent decades given policy and legislative changes (Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division 2005; Vancouver Police Department 2013; Lurigio and Watson 2010). For instance, while the process of deinstitutionalization shifted the treatment of mental health disorders from a hospital setting to a community setting, it has been argued that community based supports may not have expanded at the same capacity to make up for the loss of institutional services, which can leave police as the first responders in crisis situations or after regular health facility hours (Coleman and Cotton 2014; Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division 2005).
Many people with disabilities rely on social assistance as their primary source of income. In 2006, there were 77,430 people receiving income support through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) with a serious mental illness, representing 1 in 3 ODSP recipients.7 Yet, ODSP rates are significantly lower than what is needed to cover the cost of basic necessities, such as food, clothing, and housing. Many people with mental illness access Ontario Works (OW), the publicly funded income support program for those in temporary financial need, while waiting to be granted ODSP benefits. OW recipients receive roughly half the amount provided to ODSP recipients.