What does COAST do?
COAST Halton provides service to youth that are 16 to 18 years old with serious mental health concerns and who are in crisis.
COAST is a multidisciplinary professional team consisting of mental health crisis workers who are nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists. Plain-clothes police officers are also members of the team.
A mental health crisis worker will respond to calls on the COAST crisis line and make a preliminary assessment regarding the mental health concern. The worker will determine whether to respond with telephone support or a mobile visit
When necessary, the COAST mobile team, consisting of two staff will respond to the crisis call. Mobile visits are completed between the hours of 12:00 noon and midnight.
The goal is to help the youth and their family to manage the crisis in a safe environment of their choice where an intervention plan will be developed to defuse the crisis situation. A follow-up plan will also be created.
If necessary, the follow-up plan may involve linkage to additional community agencies or support networks. Youth and/or their parents/caregivers will be given the opportunity for support services following a crisis situation.
Youth requiring support or follow-up will receive assistance from the support team within 24 hours of the request for assistance. Youth and their families will receive support or follow-up until either the crisis has been resolved or they have been linked to appropriate community resources.
Psychiatric consultation, assessment and/or treatment will be negotiated on an individual basis.
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 full telephone support and intervention to callers from Halton during this time.
Below are listed some of the most common concerns that parents/caregivers or youth may have.
