Program snapshots

CrossCurrents

Toronto: Started in 2000. Hospital-based. Runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. In 2004–2004, the team attended 703 cases. Of these, 119 individuals were brought to hospital and 462 were managed in the community. Funding has been approved to start a similar program in a west-end hospital.

Hamilton: Started in 1997. Program runs 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. In 2004– 2005, there were 3,300 requests. Half were mobile visits/assessments and half involved phone counselling. The program’s first year saw a 17% reduction in hospital visits by police. A similar program is being developed in Toronto’s Halton region.

Vancouver: Running since 1986. Runs four days, seven evenings a week. In a recent month, had 600 calls to or from the crisis line. More than 100 mobile visits/assessments were done. Pending approval from police budget, plans are to expand to seven days a week.