Building on the partnership announced in January 2026, The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and The Royal are taking the next step - bringing their first Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) directly into the community.
Starting this week, the joint team will actively support individuals across the National Capital Region by pairing a specially trained OPS Mental Health Crisis Unit officer with a mental health professional from The Royal. Together, they will respond to crisis calls on-scene, providing timely assessment, de-escalation, and compassionate person-centred connections to care and community supports.
The MCRT complements the upcoming opening of The Royal’s new Urgent Care Clinic, which will further strengthen access to timely, specialized mental health services and help address a critical gap in care for individuals in crisis. By strengthening coordination between healthcare and law enforcement, OPS and The Royal aim to improve access to mental health supports and ensure individuals receive the right care, at the right time, and in the right place.
This initiative is supported through provincial funding from the Solicitor General of Ontario, with resources committed through 2027.
What is an MCRT?
An MCRT pairs a mental health professional with a specially trained OPS Mental Health Crisis Unit officer. Together, they respond to calls involving individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises, providing immediate support, de-escalation, assessments, and connections to community-based services and care.
How many MCRTs does OPS have?
This marks the second MCRT collaboration involving OPS and local healthcare partners. The OPS currently operates an MCRT with The Ottawa Hospital’s Mobile Crisis Team. Another MCRT with the Youth Services Bureau is anticipated to launch soon.
Media contact
The Royal
Alyssa Nader - Communications Specialist, The Royal, anader@theroyal.ca.
The Ottawa Police Service
Media Relations - Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366
About The Royal
The Royal is one of Canada’s foremost mental illness and addiction treatment, research, and education hospitals, dedicated to supporting individuals aged 16 and older who are living with complex mental illness and addiction. Since opening in 1910, The Royal has grown into a trusted resource for people across eastern and northern Ontario, western Quebec, and Nunavut.
With campuses in Ottawa and Brockville, and clinical teams working directly in homes and communities, The Royal delivers compassionate, evidence-informed care grounded in cutting-edge research, including through its partnership with the University of Ottawa and other academic and community partners. Its integrated model brings together care, research, education, and strategic partnerships to help build a future of recovery.
At The Royal, we separate the person from the illness, helping more people reclaim their lives.
