ABOUT COAST

The COAST Halton program serves residents of Halton 16 years of age and older, who have mental health issues and are in crisis. The program is a collaborative initiative of professional mental health services and Halton Regional Police, supported by the Canadian Mental Health Association of Halton and funded by the Ministry of Health.

Our Mission is to enable individuals in crisis who have a serious mental illness, to remain safely within their own environment, by providing a range of accessible services that include outreach assessments, support and interventions to prevent further crisis.

A COAST Mental Health Crisis Worker will respond to calls on the crisis line and complete an intake assessment regarding the mental health concern. Support and advice will be provided and a plan for intervention will be developed.

Any person can make a referral to the COAST team. The COAST Halton mobile team, consisting of a Mental Health Crisis Worker and a specially trained, plain-clothes police officer will respond to a residence, work place or any safe location in Halton to complete a risk assessment and mental status exam. Mobile assessments are completed between the hours of 12:00 noon and midnight.

When the assessment is complete, a plan will be developed to defuse the crisis situation while the individual remains safely within the community. A follow-up plan will be developed that may involve linkage to additional community agencies.

If the situation cannot be safely managed in the community, the COAST team will assist the client to hospital for further assessment and treatment. Clients will be referred to community programs and agencies as needed. Ongoing bridging support via the telephone will also be provided to individuals and families as needed.

The COAST Halton crisis line is answered by the COAST Hamilton team from midnight until 08:00 am. The Hamilton team is able to provide comprehensive telephone support and intervention to callers from Halton during this time.