Mental / Emotional Health 

Ottawa council unanimously supports new police mental health strategy
Oct 28, 2020 | Craig Lord | Global News
City council unanimously approved a motion Wednesday backing the Ottawa Police Service’s plans to explore new ways to respond to mental health crises with the support of other players in the city. The unanimous vote mainly throws council support behind directions laid out by the chief of police at Monday’s OPSB meeting, so the motion is largely a symbolic one.
OPS Chief Peter Sloly also said Monday that he has heard calls for change from the community. At the OPSB board meeting, he laid out a vision that would see police moved from the “head of the parade” to the “middle” when it comes to mental health response, with other practitioners in the community such as Ottawa Public Health or Crime Prevention Ottawa bringing their expertise to situations that don’t warrant a police-led approach.

Removing Cops From Behavioral Crisis Calls: 'We Need To Change The Model'
Eric Westervelt | NPR 
October 19, 2020 5:00 AM ET

'CAHOOTS': How Social Workers And Police Share Responsibilities In Eugene, Oregon
June 10, 2020 | NPR Heard on All Things Considered
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with crisis workers at the White Bird Clinic in Eugene, Ore., about their Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets program as an alternative to police intervention.

All about Eugene’s CAHOOTS – street outreach program
May 18, 2019 | Mental Health Association of Portland – Oregon’s Impartial and Independent Advocate
Communities all over the US and Canada are learning how to replicate Eugene’s CAHOOTS. Here are a set of documents, articles and videos to whet your appetite to know more.

When Mental-Health Experts, Not Police, Are the First Responders 
Program in Eugene, Ore., is viewed as a model for reducing risk of violence
By Zusha Elinson Photographs by Thomas Patterson for The Wall Street Journal
Nov. 24, 2018 10:00 am ET

Overlooked in the Undercounted The Role of Mental Illness in Fatal Law Enforcement Encounters
Treatment Advocacy Center – A Report from the Office of Research & Public Affairs (December 2015)

Saskatchewan Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan
The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to improving the way it responds to mental health and addictions issues, and endorses the 10-year Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan.
Together, with partner ministries Social Services, Education, Justice, Corrections and Policing and Advanced Education, the Ministry of Health is leading the development and implementation of an inter-ministerial improvement plan.  Since 2007, funding for mental health services has increased 34 per cent.

• 10 Year Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan

• Courts of Regina - Drug Treatment Court (DTC)

• Courts of Regina – Mental Health Strategy (MHS) Court

• Courts of Regina – Mental Health Disposition (RMHD) Court

Saskatchewan’s first mental health court reduces recidivism, USask evaluation finds
A University of Saskatchewan (USask) evaluation has found that the first group of people to come through Saskatoon’s Mental Health Strategy Court were arrested less often for petty offences in the year following their participation in the program.
“Our assessment found an observable and demonstrable reduction in criminal activity. Instead of going through the courts, probation officers, and lawyers, many individuals who came through mental health court got connected with the mental health system—which is where they belong in the first place,” said Dr. Mansfield Mela, director of the USask Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Justice Studies, which conducted the evaluation. 
Dec 8, 2020 | Greg Basky for USASK Research Profile and impact | University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine

Evaluation of the Saskatoon Mental Health Strategy (MHS) Court: Outcome and Cost Analysis
Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Justice Studies University of Saskatchewan (Aug 2020)

Mental Health Court 
Law Facts A legal information resource from Legal Aid Ontario

Researchers flag racial inequity in Saskatoon mental health court
Dec 14, 2020 | Global News

Study says mental health court positive for Sask
The report shows that less people with mental disorders are going to jail
Apr 16, 2016 | CBC News

Community creates strategy to tackle alcohol problem in Prince Albert
Community searching for solutions to reduce binge drinking, alcohol-related crimes
Apr 12, 2016 | CBC News

Strategy revealed to address alcohol ‘crisis’ in Prince Albert, Sask.
Apr 12, 2016 | CBC News

Saskatchewan Health Authority: Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region