Police agencies, health-care providers and people in crisis in the northeastern region of the province will benefit from the launch of a digital public-safety tool to support officer response to people in crisis.

“HealthIM has proven to be a valuable asset to help police officers safely and effectively de-escalate complex situations by promoting safer interactions with people in crisis,” said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Our government will continue to make meaningful investments to support law enforcement in responding to a mental-health or substance-use emergency as the program rolls out provincewide this year.”

Strengthening mental-health police response

HealthIM is a digital public-safety system to improve emergency police response in mental-health and addiction crisis situations, increasing safety for first responders, health-care providers and the person in crisis. By facilitating better communication, HealthIM aims to help officers gain insight into the factors behind a person’s behaviour, leading to more informed and compassionate interactions.

The program was launched at the Prince George RCMP detachment in late 2022 and has delivered significant and measurable outcomes Within its first year of implementation, the detachment reported a 42% reduction in apprehensions, driven by enhanced call assessments that supported more informed, evidence-based decision-making. Apprehensions decreased from 494 to 288 within the first 11 months of implementation, reflecting a successful shift from custody to hospital admissions and other supports for those experiencing a crisis.  

The Province, in partnership with the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP), launched HealthIM at RCMP detachments throughout B.C.’s northeastern region on June 17 including: RCMP: 100 Mile House, Alexis Creek, Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, Fraser Lake, Hudson’s Hope, Mackenzie, McBride, Northern Rockies, Quesnel/ Wells, Tsay-Keh, Tumbler Ridge, Valemount, Vanderhoof and Willams Lake. B.C. Highway Patrol: 100 Mile House, Dawson Creek, Fort. St John, Northern Rockies, Prince George, Quesnel/Wells and Williams Lake.

Health IM will launch at RCMP detachments throughout the north coast region in the coming months, including: RCMP: Anahim Lake, Atlin, Burns Lake, Dease Lake, Houston, Kitimat, Lisms/Nass Valley, Masset, New Hazelton, Prince Rupert, Queen Charlotte (Daajing Giids), Smithers, Stewart, Takla Landing and Terrace. B.C. Highway Patrol: Smithers and Terrace

Benefits of HealthIM

The responding officer is guided through a series of questions using HealthIM to help facilitate a better assessment of the person in crisis. The system also improves communication with health-care partners by using consistent clinical language and provides critical information to doctors and nurses immediately. Other benefits include: the assessment of risk of harm to self or others, which helps determine the best way a person can receive help provision of specific safety and de-escalation information about the person to facilitate a trauma-informed response, leading to better outcomes alerts for health-care partners to incoming people escorted by emergency responders, and flags instances of weapon possession and/or violent behaviour a harm-analysis risk history can be developed, providing insight into how to assist those with previous police interactions

“People experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis deserve compassionate, timely and co-ordinated care,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “HealthIM helps support more trauma-informed responses by strengthening communication between police and health-care teams. This leads to better continuity of care throughout northern B.C., helping connect people to the supports they need, when they need them most.”

Working with community partners

As part of its commitment to building safer communities, government provides $2 million annually to the BCACP to support the rollout of HealthIM across municipal police departments and RCMP detachments throughout B.C.

“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. “Expanding HealthIM into northern British Columbia reflects what is possible when policing, health care and government work together toward a shared goal. This milestone brings us another step closer to a co-ordinated, provincewide approach that supports front-line professionals and improves outcomes for individuals, families and communities.”