Course Outline

Leveraging hybrid learning models, the MHCR offers foundational knowledge in de-escalation and mental health crisis response accompanied by state-of-the-art scenarios in virtual reality (VR) for high-fidelity, scalable applied learning.

Course Delivery

The current MHCR package contains a total of six scenarios (three forum, three evaluation) with an additional eight scenarios in development. Currently, one forum and one evaluation scenario are available in VR, with four more in development for future training cycles.

At this time, MHCR is only being offered to Ontario police services. If you are a professional from another sector (e.g., corrections, EMS) who would like to receive information about future developments, complete the MHCR form to receive updates.

Training Package

The MHCR training package features an innovative, blended learning approach that takes learners through online modules, applied learning in group problem-solving sessions, and an evaluation scenario for formative assessment intended to guide continued learning and improvement in de-escalation competencies.

As a comprehensive training and assessment package, the MHCR allows the province of Ontario to establish a professional standard in de-escalation and mental health crisis response.

The MHCR program learning objectives and delivery are guided by the De-escalating Persons in Mental Health Crisis Competencies Tool (DePICT™), the first validated evaluation framework for police training in de-escalation and mental health crisis response.

Online Modules

Prior to engaging in applied, scenario-based learning, officers move through four online modules that offer foundational knowledge in de-escalation and mental health crisis response.

Module One: Mental Illness and Mental Health Crisis

Focuses on understanding the current context of mental health calls made to police services, the nature of mental illness and mental health crisis, how to identify them and common misconceptions.

Module Two: De-escalation and Relational Policing

Focuses on approaches, tools, and techniques that can help de-escalate and safely resolve mental health crisis situations. De-escalation and non-escalation techniques are introduced.

Module Three: The Context of Modern Policing

Examines societal attitudes toward people with mental illness, and how beliefs, attitudes, and bias can impact interactions.

Module Four: A Focus on Race

Focuses on interactions between police and racialized persons in mental health crisis. Explores how citizens’ attitudes and beliefs about police can affect an encounter and how bias can impact risk assessment.

Forum Scenarios

Designed to replace lecture-based learning on mental health crisis response, this 90-minute problem-based scenario training engages observational, group problem-solving and applied learning methods. Trainees move from being observers of the scenario to participants, engaging in stop, rewind, and playback techniques that provide repeated opportunities to test approaches and try alternative crisis resolution strategies.

Trainees engage in competency-based rehearsal learning while guided by integrated, in-scenario video feedback from subject matter experts, ranging from people with lived experience of mental illness and clinicians to police trainers.

Evaluation Scenarios

Trainers assess officers’ skills acquisition in 20 minute sessions (five-minute set up, a 10-minute scenario followed by a five-minute debrief) using the validated, observer-rater DePICT™ evaluation framework. This assessment tool captures 14 distinct competencies and each item is scored on a four-point scale. The post-scenario debriefs ensure they serve as a formative learning exercise and an opportunity to identify specific competencies needing improvement and further practice.

The trainee must achieve a score of “Satisfactory” in 11 of the 14 DePICT™ in the selected targeted competencies. If this minimum standard is not met, the trainee is required to repeat the scenario focusing on the debrief feedback and the competencies requiring attention.