News Release
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Battalion fans know the name Nick Paul. He’s the OHL team’s forward who recently earned a gold medal with Canada at the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Junior Championship, scoring three goals in seven games. What Battalion fans may not know is that Nick Paul is interested in pursuing a career in policing, should his dream to become a professional hockey player not pan out.
“This outstanding young man is making a difference in our community, not only as a star hockey player but as a champion for mental health,” said Chief Paul Cook, North Bay Police Service. “Nick is raising money for the North Bay Regional Health Centre’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit through his Points for Paul campaign. With the goal of supporting Nick’s interest in mental health and helping him develop his knowledge and understanding of the various aspects of mental health, especially from a police perspective, we have invited him on a ride along with our Mobile Crisis Team and on patrol this evening.”
“Points for Paul is about raising awareness about mental health and this ride along opportunity with the North Bay Police will help me accomplish that,” said Nick Paul. “I’m also hoping to have a successful playoff run and contribute more points that will help generate more funds towards this worthy cause."
About Points for Paul (Twitter #Points4Paul)
The Ontario Hockey League was devastated by the death of Terry Trafford, a 20-year-old Saginaw Spirit player, who committed suicide in March 2014. In honour of a great player, as well as a high school friend who also committed suicide, the Battalion hockey forward Nick Paul created the fundraising campaign Points for Paul, in partnership with the North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation. Each time Nick Paul scores a point, he encourages fans and followers to celebrate with him by making a donation to Points for Paul, in support of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit at the North Bay Regional Health Centre. Donations can be made online at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/north-bay-regional-health-centre-foundation/points-for-paul/
About the Mobile Crisis Team
Launched in September 2014 as a six-month pilot project and partnership between the North Bay Police Service and the North Bay Regional Health Centre, the Mobile Crisis Team, which is made up of two registered nurses and one police officer, responds to calls for service that involve people in crisis with mental health needs. Preliminary data collected over the first three months shows a 30% reduction in the number of individuals being brought to Emergency under Mental Health Act apprehension, a 30% reduction in police apprehensions, a 50% reduction in time spent by police at Emergency, 42 new linkages connecting individuals to community services before their situation escalates to acute psychiatric or emergency service requirements and 279 hours spent serving patients in the community rather than in hospital. Over the first six-month period, the Mobile Crisis Team responded to 706 calls for service, representing four calls per day. In March 2015, the North Bay Police Service announced it will continue the program past its six-month pilot. The Service looks forward to continuing this important partnership with the North Bay Regional Health Centre.
