Dartmouth Launches Mental Health Support Program for Non-Emergency Crises

A new pilot program aimed at enhancing mental health support has been launched in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Known as the **Crisis, Assistance and Response Team** (CARE), this initiative focuses on providing in-person help for individuals facing non-emergency and non-violent crises linked to mental health and substance use.

The program is a collaboration between the **Halifax Regional Municipality** and various community service providers. According to **Rachel Boehm**, the executive director of community safety for Halifax, “211 Nova Scotia is the front door to CARE,” meaning that individuals seeking assistance can call 211, where community navigators assess their needs and dispatch the appropriate team.

The **CARE** program employs **Souls Harbour** to deliver these mobile supports, utilizing dedicated vehicles and trained personnel to address calls related to distress or social needs. Boehm emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards for service delivery, ensuring that the program is trauma-informed and inclusive for all community members.

In its initial week, the response to the program has been positive, with **Bamidele Bello**, the city’s alternate response manager, reporting four calls, including one from a community organization needing assistance for a client. “It’s a service that is needed and when we launched it was welcomed with open arms,” Bello stated.

This pilot program is designed to fill gaps left by existing services, such as the Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team and emergency services like 911. Boehm explained that CARE specifically targets those who are not in acute mental health crises. “People experiencing relationship problems or those who have gone through traumatic events may simply need a little support to navigate their situation,” she said.

To access the CARE program, individuals can call 211, whether they are in crisis themselves or calling on behalf of someone else. It is important to note that CARE does not respond to medical emergencies or situations involving weapons that could escalate into violence. Once the community navigator identifies a suitable case, they dispatch the CARE mobile team.

The current service hours for the pilot program are from **08:00 to 21:00**, Monday to Friday, covering areas including Dartmouth, Woodlawn, and Cole Harbour. Plans are in place to expand the program in **January 2024** to operate **24/7**.

Boehm highlighted that the program will be closely monitored for two years to assess its effectiveness. “If it reaches its stated goals and positively impacts our community by connecting people to the appropriate support, we hope to expand its geographical reach and involve more service providers,” she noted.

The CARE program represents a significant step towards improving mental health support in the region, aiming to reduce the burden on emergency services by addressing social and emotional crises more effectively.