Crisis Response Teams in Action
A province-wide scan of mobile crisis teams designed to map crisis response teams and understand how they serve people experiencing acute mental health, substance use, or neurodevelopmental crises. This scan highlights who delivers mobile crisis services, how these teams operate, how they are funded, and where service gaps remain. The findings help strengthen cross-sector planning and support better crisis responses for communities across Ontario.
About the Crisis Response Teams in Action Scan
Crisis response teams play a vital role in de-escalating mental health, substance use, and neurodevelopmental crises across Ontario. This environmental scan provides an updated picture of how these teams have evolved since 2020 — including growth in police-partnered and non-police models, emerging funding and sustainability challenges, and wide variability in service availability across the province.
KEY FINDINGS AT A GLANCE
- 110 crisis response teams identified across Ontario
- 51% increase in police-partnered teams since 2020
- Only 10% of teams operate 24/7
- 48 teams rely on multiple funding sources, raising sustainability concerns
- Toronto Region has the highest concentration of non-police teams
- Significant gaps exist in weekend and after-hours availability