RCMP officers in Valemount and McBride have a new tool to help them respond to people experiencing mental-health and substance-use crises.
For rural detachments such as Valemount and McBride, the system could help officers decide whether apprehension and transportation to a health-care facility are necessary. However, it does not increase the number of mental-health professionals or treatment services available within either community.
The local impact will depend on how often the system is used, whether it reduces unnecessary apprehensions and how much time officers spend transporting people or waiting with them at hospitals.
The Rocky Mountain Goat has requested local usage information from the Valemount and McBride RCMP detachments.
HealthIM, a digital risk-screening system, was introduced at both detachments on June 17th as part of a larger rollout across northern British Columbia.
The system guides responding officers through a series of questions intended to assess the likelihood that a person may harm themselves or someone else. It also provides officers with safety and de-escalation information and helps them determine whether the person should be transported to hospital for further assessment.
HealthIM is not a new mental-health response team and does not place a health-care professional alongside the responding officer. Instead, it is designed to improve the information available to police and strengthen communication between officers and health-care providers.
If an individual is transported to hospital, HealthIM can notify doctors and nurses before the person arrives. Information about the circumstances of the crisis, including reported weapons or violent behaviour, can be shared with the receiving health-care team.
The system can also develop a risk history from previous HealthIM assessments, providing additional information when officers respond to someone who has experienced earlier crises.
“Every person experiencing a mental-health crisis deserves a response grounded in compassion, informed decision-making and access to appropriate care, regardless of where they live,” said Deputy Chief Const. Andrew Chan, president of the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police, in the provincial announcement.
The program was first introduced at the Prince George RCMP detachment in late 2022.
During its first year in Prince George, mental-health apprehensions reportedly declined by 42 per cent, falling from 494 to 288. The province said the reduction resulted from more detailed assessments that helped officers make better-informed decisions.
Across police services already using HealthIM, hospital admission rates increased by 37 per cent. According to the province, that indicates people transported to hospital were more likely to require and receive appropriate care.
Early adopters—including the Prince George RCMP, Surrey Police Service and Delta Police Department—have used the system during more than 10,500 calls.
“Following a successful trial implementation in Prince George, we have seen first-hand how the HealthIM model improves efficiency, keeps officers focused on front-line policing and strengthens collaboration with our health partners,” said Supt. Keny Floyd, commander of the B.C. RCMP’s North District.
HealthIM was also introduced at detachments in 100 Mile House, Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, Fraser Lake, Mackenzie, Quesnel, Tumbler Ridge, Vanderhoof and several other northern communities.
The provincial government provides the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police with $2 million annually to support the implementation of HealthIM at RCMP detachments and municipal police departments across B.C.