Leamington Unveils Safety Plan to Tackle Mental Health Issues

Police and health officials in **Leamington**, Ontario, have launched a new neighbourhood safety plan designed to address the rising concerns over mental health and substance use in the community. This initiative, part of the **Substance Supports in Neighbourhoods Accessed through Police Partnerships (SSNAPP)**, aims to improve connections between residents and support services amidst a growing number of calls for assistance related to these issues.

The SSNAPP initiative is a collaborative effort involving the **Ontario Provincial Police**, the **Windsor-Essex County Health Unit**, and the **Windsor-Essex Community Safety and Well-Being Plan**. It is funded through a **Community Safety and Policing Grant**. Local officials state that the plan provides comprehensive guidance on responding to various situations, including opioid overdoses, mental health crises, road safety issues, and incidents of intimate partner violence.

Community Engagement and Support Services

According to **Jenny Brandt**, manager of substance abuse prevention and harm reduction at the **Windsor-Essex County Health Unit**, the initiative is designed to enhance the navigation of existing services. “If something happens on the street, someone sees someone who’s experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use crisis, these plans are really steps on what to do, who to call in various situations,” Brandt said.

The plan not only outlines emergency and non-emergency options but also includes outreach services that extend beyond traditional policing. Brandt highlighted key community concerns identified through engagement efforts, including road safety, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking.

**Inspector Chuck Lorway** of the Essex County OPP noted that there has been a marked increase in mental health-related calls and opioid incidents in recent years. “Over the last few years, there’s been an increasing number of Mental Health Act calls for service, as well as calls associated with opioids,” Lorway stated. He emphasized the importance of pairing frontline officers with clinicians and crisis workers to better manage these situations. “People are going to be getting proper treatment, they’re going to be getting proper supports,” he explained.

Shifting Perspectives on Community Safety

**Superintendent Mark Loucas**, detachment commander for the Essex County OPP, indicated that this initiative reflects a broader shift toward partnership-based responses to community safety. “Community safety is strongest when prevention, public health, municipalities, and policing work together,” Loucas remarked.

**MPP Trevor Jones**, a former OPP officer, described the initiative as “an evolution,” asserting that policing alone cannot effectively address complex social challenges. “Police officers can’t do the difficult job they have on their own. They need everyone to help,” Jones explained.

**Mayor Hilda MacDonald** highlighted the plan’s potential to guide residents in non-emergency situations. “Sometimes you don’t need to call 911,” MacDonald stated, adding that the plan provides clear direction on how to handle issues like vandalism or discrimination. “Educating our public makes them more engaged, but also contributes to answers that will then eventually lead to the neighborhoods that they’re watching out for,” she said.

**Dr. Ken Blanchette**, chief executive officer of the **Windsor-Essex County Health Unit**, emphasized that the plans are designed to ensure residents have access to the necessary tools and resources for self-support and community assistance. “These safety plans will positively affect the health and well-being of our communities,” Blanchette affirmed.

Officials believe that the success of the SSNAPP initiative will hinge on community awareness and its ability to reduce repeat crisis calls while enhancing connections to care. More information about the Leamington safety plan, along with similar plans developed in Windsor and Essex, can be found online at **ssnapp.ca**.