Reforming Police Response to Mental Health Calls | Daniel Pearson Hirdes | TEDxUW

If you were asked to choose between a Social Worker, a Police Officer or a Doctor to support a person with mental health needs, your first choice would likely not be the police officer - but in Canada, Police are quickly becoming the Primary Caregivers for these individuals in the community. In this talk Daniel discusses the crisis calls that are redefining the role of police officers in Canada, and the great challenges that come with these new responsibilities. Daniel Pearson Hirdes is the CEO and Co-Founder of HealthIM, a company based in Kitchener that supports police officers responding to mental health calls in the community. Through his experiences at HealthIM, Daniel has learned from police and health care services across Canada and abroad and has gained an intimate understanding of the challenges that face our mental health system today. Daniel completed his undergraduate degree in Arts & Business at the University of Waterloo and is currently completing a masters in eHealth at McMaster University. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@WyldFoxRacer]

Why aren’t more people talking about this???

[@Lisa-hj8fh]

Because the mentally ill, and special needs are a reminder of mans faults and should be swept under the rug. Out of site, out of mind. Yet, here I sit sleepless trying to get mental health reform in our society.

[@EhEsDeeEf]

Neurotypicals cant imagine what it's like. Why help when you can punish. they are "criminals" committing crimes after all.

[@zer0cx110]

@@EhEsDeeEfso true so true

[@shannoncarmody3805]

Why not go fund me Pages for hospitals, Mental Health Services where people can donate? in memory of someone who passed on. In honor of maybe themselves and making it through a tough time of their own like an anniversary of having survived a a personal scenario.

[@jascam1]

So if not the police then who. In florida when a DCF agent have to go check on a child a deputy goes along to protect DCF and to document any criminal violations. There’s only so many LEO to go around

[@angelblue7779]

Dale needs help Daniel!