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A new pairing of mental health professionals and police officers could make a big difference when someone is undergoing a mental health crisis in Estevan.
The city’s new Police and Crisis Team (PACT) is now up and running after a $350,000 investment by the Saskatchewan ministries of health and public safety.
According to the Government of Saskatchewan, the goal of PACT is to “provide the right kind of care for individuals who are better served in the community, reducing stress on emergency rooms and keeping clients who are facing a mental health emergency out of the criminal justice system.”
While the Estevan PACT is the newest iteration of the program, similar crisis teams are already operating in several cities in Saskatchewan including Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Yorkton and North Battleford.
“The PACT program has been instrumental in the evolution of how police respond to people undergoing a mental health crisis in the community,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell said in a media release.
“It is a unique and effective way of handling police calls, directing clients to the right services and ensuring public safety.”
Estevan Police Chief Rich Lowen said the team is already showing promising results.
“PACT is already responding to calls for service and has been instrumental in helping those in crisis,” Lowen said in a statement.