Hamilton Police Officer in VR MHCR and VR Training Sections

What Is MHCR?


MHCR Mandated Curriculum = Delivered with VR
for Effective and Efficient Results

We understand the importance of quality and throughput in training your members in mental health crisis response. Our Virtual Reality (VR) system ensures your team meets all MHCR-mandated requirements with the highest quality and most members trained with the fewest staff resources.

Street Smarts was competitively selected to be the VR vendor for MHCR and is proud to partner with Wilfrid Laurier University and its collaborators.

Please note that the estimated completion time reflects the average duration required to complete this step under optimal conditions, assuming all parties are available and fully engaged. For more information about Wilfrid Laurier University and the MHCR program, click here → .

Step-by-Step Guide to MHCR Training with SSVR's VR Solution

1

MHCR Train-the-Trainer (T3) - Curriculum

Contact WLU's MHCR team, book a 3 day T3 course, achieve train-the-trainer accreditation for your team. Please note: this is not a VR trainer or instructor course.

Duration

The 3 day course may be available in coming weeks-months depending on course availability

Outcome

Once trained, your instructors are now well versed in MHCR's curriculum and can qualify your members in MHCR. Now choose your preferred delivery method.

2

Delivery Method - Needs Assessment Review

Our team can assist your service in a thorough review of your options for MHCR delivery methods (VR vs live actor). Online or in person meeting available.

Duration

5-7 business days from first contact

Outcome

Detailed project proposal for your service, delivery method tied to learning outcomes for MHCR and beyond.

3

Demo / Procurement

We provide a detailed demo of the product or move directly to procurement based on your decision. We provide the business case and references needed.

Duration

Varies by service process

Outcome

Systems on order will arrive 3-4 months from purchase order (PO) receipt by SSVR.

4

Street Smarts VR Train-the-Trainer

A comprehensive training day of SSVR's VR implementation and delivery method for MHCR and other training goals.

Duration

1 day

Outcome

Your staff are qualified to operate the VR system.

5

Final On-site Training

The service is now ready to deploy curriculum to members to qualify them.

Duration

Based on your service's schedule

Outcome

Upon successful completion of all steps, you qualify your members annually in the mandated MHCR program.

MHCR course dates & student curriculum stages and more info can be found here , with detailed delivery info here .

Why VR is More Efficient Than
Live Actor Training

At SSVR, we value all forms of training—including live actor-based (LA) sessions. However, Virtual Reality (VR) offers advantages over live actor training, especially with instructor resources, throughput, immersiveness and scalability.


A peer-reviewed study, published in Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, has shown VR to have "comparable effectiveness to the LA format in bringing about improved de-escalation skills through scenario-based training." The study goes on to say "The VR group showed a greater reduction in bias towards mental illness compared to the control group." 1

A trainee verbally engaging with a person in crisis during an MHCR scenario
A trainee verbally engaging with a person in crisis during an MHCR scenario

Here's why many agencies are turning to VR to enhance their training programs

Compliance

VR ensures your training consistently meets MHCR professional and legislated standards, with accurately portrayed scenarios and controlled environments that align with legislative requirements.

Realism

High-fidelity simulations provide immersive and realistic experiences, while improving knowledge retention, strengthening your organization's credibility and reinforcing community trust.

"Further, the VR format was found to be no more cognitively demanding than live action."¹

Standardization

Unlike live actor training, VR eliminates inconsistencies. Every session delivers standardized experiences, making evaluations fair, measurable, and defensible.

Time Efficiency

VR allows for multiple mandated scenarios in a single session, maximizing training time while going beyond the MHCR mandate by providing other scenarios (edged weapon, domestic, PIC).

SSVR's 40+ scenario library allows facilitators the ability to seamlessly bring learners through multiple scenarios in minutes, not hours!

Resource Efficiency

Where LA scenarios will take 4-5 staff members for MHCR, a VR scenario only takes 1 instructor to operate 1 or 2 VR systems, allowing up to 2 students to be qualified at a time.

Proven Results

Backed by academic research, studies show VR is proven to deliver better retention of skills and knowledge. WLU’s study showed VR was just as effective as live action in crisis de-escalation and decision-making training.

1 Reference: Jennifer Lavoie et al., "Training Police to De-escalate Mental Health Crisis Situations: Comparing Virtual Reality and Live-Action Scenario-Based Approaches," Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice 17 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paad069

Resources

VR Studies

  • Effectiveness of Immersive Virtual Reality on Orthopedic Surgical Skills and Knowledge Acquisition Among Senior Surgical Residents: A Randomized Clinical Trial
    JAMA Network Open (2020) — RCT; immersive VR outperformed standard video for complex skill acquisition and transfer in orthopedic procedures.
    Lohre, R., Bois, A., Athwal, G. S., Lapner, P., Pollock, J., & Goel, D. P. (2020). Europe PMC
  • Virtual memory palaces: immersion aids recall
    Virtual Reality (2019) — HMD-based memory palace produced higher recall than desktop implementation.
    Krokos, E., Plaisant, C., & Varshney, A. (2019). Springer Nature Link
  • Enhancing learning and retention with distinctive virtual reality contexts
    npj Science of Learning (2022) — Distinctive VR contexts improved one-week retention versus less distinctive contexts (context-dependent memory in VR).
    H.-H., Dell’Italia, J., & Rissman, J. (2022). Nature
  • Effects of Level of Immersion on Virtual Training Transfer of Bimanual Assembly Tasks
    Frontiers in Virtual Reality (2021) — RCT; higher-immersion VR yielded better transfer; at 2-week retention the video group’s performance dropped while immersive-VR performance held.
    Ranjan, A., Ghosh, A., Jayaraman, S., & Paul, P. S. (2021). Frontiers
  • Impact of Interaction Techniques in Virtual Assembly Training on Skill Retention and Transfer
    Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering (2021) — Industrial training study tracking performance over months; VR-trained groups showed durable retention and better transfer to real assembly.
    Springer Nature Link
  • Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers. (2012). Stress and decision-making. U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
    FLETC
  • Force Science Institute. (2018, June 27). Putting the “real” in reality training: A scientific approach to scenarios.
    Force Science
  • Andersen, J. P., et al. (2021). A reasonable officer: Examining the relationships among stress, training, and performance in a highly realistic lethal force scenario.
    Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 759132. DOI
  • Force Science Institute. (2023, September 6). Heart rates, performance, and high-fidelity training.
    Force Science
  • Police1 Staff. (2023). The science of split-second decisions: What officers face in life-or-death moments.
    Police1

Quick Reference FAQ

Can we use other VR systems or alternate hardware to achieve this delivery method under MHCR mandated training?

No. SSVR is the exclusive, competitively selected vendor under WLU’s MHCR program and no other vendor is able to provide an accredited MHCR VR delivery method. This means that SSVR products can be sole source purchased.

Do we have to use VR to achieve MHCR mandated training under CSPA?

No. Agencies can choose to use live action or VR to meet CSPA requirements.

Can SSVR provide the full MHCR curriculum and process for my service?

No. SSVR provides the VR training platforms and training on how to use them as part of your service’s effort to accomplish training objectives.

What is the approximate cost for one VR system for MHCR purposes for one year?

The typical cost per system is $50,000 CAD depending on the exchange rate, with an annual subscription cost in subsequent years of $21,000 CAD to receive the new MHCR scenarios each year. Please contact us at canada-sales@streetsmartsvr.com for a quote specific to your needs.

Does the SSVR system provide other types of training scenarios in the same system as MHCR scenarios?

Yes. SSVR provides scenarios for intimate partner violence training, active attacker, edged weapon, traffic stops, use of force decision making and more in its scenario library. Also included is Creator mode, allowing you to make your own scenarios.

Does the SSVR system have the capabilities of creating custom based scenarios based on service needs?

Yes. SSVR’s “Creator Mode” option allows trainers to recreate dynamic, situational specific scenarios based on their needed content. Utilizing “Creator Mode” allows limitless customization. As an authoring tool it allows trainers to create ANY type of use of force scenario.

Can MHCR be used by agencies outside of Ontario?

Yes. For MHCR curriculum, contact WLU. Once you are ready to determine your method to deliver the scenarios in the curriculum, we are happy to assist.

Are SSVR scenarios recording or saving replays in the context of a legal disclosure?

No. SSVR’s systems by default are set up not to save any video replay data or user-specific data. General aggregate session data can be collected by instructors but that needs to be manually set up.

Full FAQ available here

Evidence-Based Crisis Response Training
for Global Law Enforcement

The Mental Health Crisis Response (MHCR) program extends far beyond Ontario. Developed through more than eight years of research and academic validation, MHCR offers law enforcement, corrections, and security agencies worldwide access to scientifically grounded training scenarios proven to enhance officer decision-making and de-escalation skills.

At SSVR, we provide immersive, interactive training that can be customized to your operational environment. Whether you represent a provincial, state, or national police service, our scenarios can be adapted to reflect your local culture, language, and policing realities—ensuring relevance and maximum training impact.

For example, the “Jay” scenario features a call for service to a café where officers encounter an Indigenous man experiencing psychosis and struggling to communicate. Trainers have full control of the scenario’s progression, using dynamic branching pathways that respond to learner performance. Scenarios like this can be fully customized to reflect your region’s unique community dynamics and operational context.

If your service is interested in accessing this world-class training, we recommend contacting the MHCR team at MHCR@wlu.ca to discuss the curriculum options. Agencies can license the full program—including structured curriculum and instructor training—or select scenario-only access, tailored to your specific needs.
Join the growing number of agencies adopting MHCR and lead the way in modern, evidence-based, relational policing.

For international inquiries, please contact us at
canada-sales@streetsmartsvr.com

Who We Are

SSVR is Canada’s trusted partner in simulation-based training, specializing in Mental Health Crisis Response (MHCR). A veteran-owned company, our dedicated team brings frontline experience, academic research, and technology-driven solutions together to elevate the standard of mental health and de-escalation training for first responders. We proudly serve police, corrections, paramedic, social services and security agencies across Canada and internationally.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple: to make high-quality, accredited MHCR training accessible, efficient, and impactful. We help agencies meet their mandated MHCR training requirements while ensuring every officer receives practical, immersive, and evidence-based instruction that translates into safer outcomes for both responders and the community.

About MHCR and Wilfrid Laurier University

Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) is the lead academic partner behind the Mental Health Crisis Response (MHCR) program, a provincially mandated curriculum under Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA). MHCR is a scenario-based, community co-designed training program that provides frontline officers with advanced, evidence-informed skills in de-escalation, crisis communication, and relational policing. Developed through more than eight years of academic research, community consultation, and field testing, MHCR is designed to improve outcomes during mental health and substance use crisis calls. The program was created in direct response to recommendations from public inquests and independent reviews, including the Iacobucci Report, highlighting the need for improved police responses to mental health crises. For more information, visit WLU’s MHCR page or email MHCR@wlu.ca.

Delivery Timelines Update | 1 September 2025

We are excited to be providing police services in Ontario this powerful tool which can be used not only in MHCR mandated training but for other in-service de-escalation or use of force scenarios.
To aid in your planning, please refer to the summarized timeline below.
From the date of purchase order received, we will deliver systems in 60-90 days. The systems will be coming from the US and small border delays are common. Expect duties and taxes at the border of up to 30% of the hardware value.
The Train-the-Trainer for VR is 1 day. Based on current trends, we expect a significant number of T3 booking requests in the same few weeks.

Example (PO mid-September)
  • Delivery in November-December
  • 1 day VR T3 provided by SSVR to the police service in Dec-Jan
  • Service ready to deploy VR in January

Based on this, we recommend purchases to be completed by September 15th in order to guarantee we can provide you what you need to be successful in time for a January deployment with VR for MHCR or any in-service requirement.
We expect pricing for our product to increase next year due to a number of factors.
We hope this helps you in your planning process!

Contact Us

Reach our accreditation specialists for personalized assistance

An Ontario government official experiences the dynamic nature of MHCR in virtual reality.