Responding to social emergencies

Did you know that Laval has a unique approach in Quebec to better assist people in distress or experiencing mental health issues? Here’s how the SPL collaborates with specialists to ensure community safety and well-being. 

The mission of the social emergency division 

The Social Emergency Division consists of social work specialists who support police officers. Here are the main benefits of this approach: 

• Rapid interventions in complex and diverse situations. 
• Reduced time and frequency of psychosocial-related police calls. 
• Improved follow-ups due to an in-depth knowledge of the social services network, ensuring better service coordination. 
• Intervention with individuals who do not seek or refuse services. 
• Involvement in complex cases that do not meet the health and social services network’s admission criteria. 
• Facilitation of the application of the Act respecting the protection of persons whose mental state presents a danger to themselves or others (Article 8 of Law P-38.001). 

When our teams can intervene 

Here are examples of emergency situations where our teams provide their expertise: 

• Death (accidental, suicide, homicide) 
• Disoriented individuals in crisis 
• Homelessness 
• Domestic or family violence, abuse 
• Unsanitary conditions and compulsive hoarding 

Beyond emergencies, our teams can: 

• Execute legal orders related to mental health (temporary custody, treatment orders, Mental Disorder Review Board hearings). 
• Assess risks related to substance abuse, violence, or suicide. 

What is the social emergency division? 

These are teams of social work specialists who can respond to 911 calls. The division conducts social intervention patrols five days a week, from 9 a.m. to midnight. 

How to contact the social emergency division 

450 662-4595 
Monday to Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

About the social emergency division 

The mission of the Social Emergency Division of the Laval Police Department is to provide urgent psychosocial interventions to Laval residents. These community-based interventions are grounded in human rights principles and the importance of partnership relations, following the foundations of social work.

Our values

Respect 

In our interactions with the public and our partners, we prioritize courtesy, listening, dignity, self-determination, and respect for values, differences, and rights. 

Team spirit

We collaborate closely with internal and external partners, always centering the person in our interventions. By working together, we ensure the best possible services. Team spirit is the foundation of the Social Emergency Division. 

Integrity

We act fairly, honestly, transparently, and impartially. Integrity allows us to maintain trust with citizens and our partners. 

Professionnalism 

We emphasize rigorous interventions, skill development, and the use of best intervention practices. Collaboration is central to all our actions.

Accessibility

We ensure that our interventions remain rigorous, skill-focused, and based on best practices, always fostering collaboration with citizens. 

Our intervention methods

Crisis intervention 

This immediate, brief, and directive approach aims to stabilize the individual’s condition or environment in response to a crisis. It includes assessing the situation, estimating risks (dangerousness, suicide risk, mental deterioration), de-escalation, support, teaching coping strategies, and referring individuals to the most appropriate services. 

Problem-solving approach 

This method focuses on a concrete issue with short-term solutions. Instead of exploring societal or psychological causes, the goal is to equip individuals with problem-solving skills. 

Steps: 

• Situation Assessment: Identify the issue (its meaning for the person, causes, previous attempts to resolve it). 
• Intervention Planning: Define expectations and solutions, clarify available resources and feasible assistance. 
• Action: Implement the intervention. 
• Closure: Conclude the intervention process and evaluate outcomes. 

Systemic approach

This approach understands human relationships as part of a larger system (family, work, social environment). It considers how individuals interact within these systems, acknowledging that personal difficulties may reflect broader systemic issues.