Notes from the Rotary Meeting 12.30pm Thursday, September 2, 2021
President Chris welcomed everyone by ringing the Rotary bell that had been mended by Neil who was thanked.
Club Business
Chris reminded Rotarians that the Club has sponsored the CB Nuit Mentorship Program again this year. CB Nuit will be held on 24 – 26th 2021 and Jamie Merrigan is being sponsored by Mallory Fisher under the Mentorship program.
Linda and Elaine passed on information about Andre’s health. He is in everyone’s thoughts and prayers for his health to improve.
Program
Program-chair Lorraine welcomed her two guest speakers RNC Constable Shauna Park and RN Janet Sweetapple, Western Health Mental Health Clinician. Both are part of the Corner Brook Mobile Crisis Response Team. This team was launched in 2018 on the East Coast and in Corner Brook in 2019. Shauna who has been involved in policing for 17 years began by speaking of the work done by the Mobile Crisis Response Team and the difference it has made to people in crisis. She explained how the RNC crisis intervention team is based on the Memphis model. This model involves providing police with specialized training in crisis intervention and then placing these officers in the community, so they are available to respond to help de-escalate mental health crises. The non-uniform police officer has authority to enter a home when someone is having a mental health crisis and the accompanying clinician can do the necessary assessment. The whole approach to such a crisis has changed with listening being most important while the clinician assesses and sets up necessary counselling or hospitalization and families can be helped with this gentle more proactive approach.
Janet explained how the program works and the services offered. In the past year the team has received over 600 calls and through this community-based approach admittance to the hospital has been reduced.
Several questions were answered before Linda thanked Shauna and Janet.
The meeting was adjourned at 1.30pm.