The partnership between the City of Montreal Police Service and the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal remains essential for providing proactive interventions to prevent crises. By bringing together the police department’s community outreach officers and the health and social services professionals from our mental health access mechanism under a single project, we can now assess and provide follow-up care for individuals who do not seek mental health services. This helps prevent the cycle of repeated hospitalizations and the risk of homelessness for these individuals. Close follow-up with this population also helps reduce recurring 911 calls.
The project’s objectives aim to effectively address individual needs and support their families and friends. Staff ensure that access to appropriate services is rapid, whether provided within the health and social services network or by community organizations near their homes. We have developed several partnerships, notably with the Community Partnership Service. The ÉCHINOPS team has been expanded within the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, extending our activities to a second RLS in collaboration with the SPVM.
The Impact
The recognition provided by the Hippocrates Award has certainly contributed to the interest in this unique model. We have sparked interest from several organizations, notably during discussions with teams from the CIUSSS de l’Estrie and the CIUSSS du Nord de l’île de Montréal, as well as internationally during a presentation via Teams in Israel in 2023. Our team has also presented the project at several conferences and symposia, including those of the Association of Psychiatrists of Quebec, the Association of Mental Health Nurses of Quebec, and at the National Director of Mental Health and Forensic Psychiatry Services Day held on June 14. Additionally, we are hosting several interns and psychiatry residents interested in the ÉCHINOPS model. Finally, this summer, we will present the preliminary results of the ÉCHINOPS research project at the International Association of Law and Mental Health (IALMH) in Barcelona, Spain.
