Educational Media Reviews Online

This concise, effective film springs from a simple premise which will be familiar to anyone who tunes in to prime time television: reality caught on tape. Unlike most such sensationalized programs, this film captures the gritty reality of two unlikely colleagues as they spend a decidedly unglamorous night traversing the streets of Toronto. The film’s subjects are professionals with a common goal: a psychiatric nurse, Ellen, and a police officer, Brandon, who work together to defuse criminal activities instigated by “EDP’s” – emotionally disturbed persons. Inspired by the grim events surrounding the coroner’s inquest into the death of a schizophrenic homeless man shot to death by police, this novel cooperative program helps deescalate crises and avoid unnecessary arrests and emergency room visits by providing appropriate referrals and services on site, saving the city of Toronto both time and money while allowing primary police respondents to concentrate on more serious disturbances.

The camera follows Ellen and Brandon as they respond to a surprising variety of calls. A distressed hotel guest is considering suicide needs reassurance and a referral. A tenant who’s alleged to have become destructive after clashing with his landlord is apprised of his rights and responsibilities. A 14-year-old student apprehensive about an upcoming meeting with her estranged father writes a suicidal note, but is encouraged to learn that his legal rights are not as all-encompassing as she’d previously thought. Not all situations turn out to be so benign—a violent methamphetamine addict smashes windows in a violent rage, spitting at Ellen, who is cut by the flying glass. An alcoholic man who threatens suicide becomes both physically and verbally abusive to the pair as they try to calm him. Even in these cases, the value of the program is eminently clear – Ellen and Brandon are able to give a more complete picture of the offender’s behavior and can often provide crucial details about the patient’s history to hospital staff.

The arrangement helps not only the patients – it has also opened officers’ eyes to the realities and complexities of mental illness. Brandon admits his pejorative prejudice regarding the psychologically troubled. Clearly he has benefited from his partnership with Ellen, who describes the successful program as a “new way of looking at hospitals without walls”: the pair have responded to 800 calls in one year, and 73% of the perpetrators have been able to stay in the community.

Additional features include eleven case studies with discussion questions. Although these cases are not all resolved over the course of this single night, the cumulative effect of these snapshots is a compelling argument for cooperative partnerships in criminal justice and a greater understanding of mental health issues.