By Cecilia Nasmith

A new painting now hanging in the Port Hope Police Service building at 55 Fox Rd. throws a spotlight on a strong partnership between that organization and Northumberland Hills Hospital's Community Mental Health Service.

Both parties jointly commissioned the 1x1.5-metre piece by multidisciplinary artist Michelle Akil, a graduate of Centennial College and the Ontario College of Art and Design University. Strategically displayed in the building's Community Room, the brightly coloured mixed-media scene spotlights a small service that has had a big impact since its introduction three years ago.

That would be M-HEART – standing for Mental Health Engagement And Response Team – which has been a fixture in the Port Hope Police Service since 2018, soon after it was introduced to the region with funding from the Central East Local Health Integration Network (now Ontario Health East). Similar M-HEART teams are in place at the Northumberland OPP and Cobourg Police Service.

Akil's work shows a youth head-in-hands, sitting on the ground beside the Port Hope Police cruiser that has brought an officer from the M-HEART team to help.

“The backdrop of the scene is a mural with imagery that includes Indigenous, LGBTQ2+ and other symbolism representing inclusivity, together with a mix of urban and rural landscapes,” Akil said in the press release.

“It is meant to provoke awareness of inclusion, diversity and breaking barriers – and another way to continue the discussion of mental health overall.”

Port Hope Chief of Police Bryant Wood said in the press release that only about 20% of the calls they received are actually due to criminal activity. He would term the other 80% society issues.

“People needing help quickly, and many of those are associated with mental-health need,” Wood clarified.

“By pairing an NHH Mental Health Nurse with an existing Mental Health Response and Liaison Officer from our service, we have found that we can get care quickly and directly to those who need it most, when they need it.”

Kristen Balkisson – the Mental Health Nurse assigned to the Port Hope Police Service, and the instigator behind the painting idea – spends three days a week riding along with her Port Hope Police counterpart Constable Tammy Staples. Together, they jointly and proactively engage with individuals in the community who struggle with mental-health and addiction issues.

Staples termed the partnership “a puzzle”.

“We are there to help, but we don't just deal with mental health. It may be homelessness or even literacy – just like the painting. If you look at these situations we are called to, they are quite often the result of many factors overlapping.”

As a nurse with special training in mental-health needs, Balkisson added, “I am here to provide a mix of supports curbside, just as Michelle's painting depicts, including intensive case management, mental-health therapeutic treatment, family supports, assertive outreach, advocacy, linkage to hospital-based and community resources, medication administration, as well as primary-care connection.

“Every individual we connect with has unique needs. But overall, our goal is to support longer-term stabilization of vulnerable people living in the community and, where necessary and possible, link them with other supports beyond the health and justice sectors, such as income assistance and housing support.”

The opportunities provided by the M-HEART partnership bring care to individuals in need that often avert a trip to the NHH Emergency Department. It also fosters the development of trusting relationships between vulnerable individuals and those who strive to support them.

“System navigation is changing for so many of our clients and families,” NHH Community Mental Health Service Interim Director Emma Taylor stated.

“There are many barriers, from trust to literacy to transportation. And without support, as we know, small challenges can grow.

“The purpose of M-HEART (and we have certainly seen its benefit in Port Hope) is to connect people in need sooner, before issues escalate, with a street-level strategy that works together with the client on permanent solutions.

“We are hopeful that Michelle's beautiful artwork will help us to raise further awareness of the service in the community.”

System-level benefits are being seem as a result of the M-HEART mobile crisis intervention model, such as the development of coordinated-care plans, empowering clients and their families to participate in care planning while keeping members of the support team informed.

In 2021, calls to M-HEART increased by 169% over 2020, with 63% more unique individuals served from year to year and a 65% increase in in Emergency Department diversions – meaning 65% more calls were able to be managed in the community rather than through a hospital Emergency Department visit.

Chief Wood said the program is a win for all involved.

“First and foremost, it's good for the people we're here to serve. It's good for our police service, as it brings specialized mental-health skills to the street where they're needed most. And it's good for the local health-care system by reducing crisis visits to the Emergency Department,” Wood listed.

“With continued government support, we look forward to building on the strength of the M-HEART model in the months and years ahead, and expanding access through increased resources in Port Hope cruisers.”