By Times Chronicle Staff
Police in the Interior now have access to a new digital public safety tool aimed at supporting officers’ response to people in crisis.
Launched at RCMP detachments throughout the Interior this spring, the hope of “HealthIM” – an evidence-based, risk-screening tool – is to improve emergency police response in mental-health and addiction crisis situations.
This will increase safety for first responders, health-care providers and the person in crisis, the Province said in announcing the rollout. “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 digital device works by guiding the responding officer through a series of questions to help facilitate a better assessment of the person in crisis.
“The HealthIM program strengthens partnerships in delivering patient-centred care, enables improved mental-health and crisis supports for people who need it, and better supports clinical care teams,” said Sylvia Weir, president and chief executive officer, Interior Health.
“It is designed to meet people where they are during times of crisis and focuses on delivering safe and culturally appropriate care. The positive impact of HealthIM in other Interior communities has been evident over the past several months, and we are pleased about this expansion to the Kootenay Boundary, Okanagan and Thompson Cariboo regions.”
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;
- Provides specific safety and de-escalation information about the person to facilitate a trauma-informed response, leading to better outcomes;
- Alerts health-care partners to incoming people escorted by emergency responders, and flags instances of weapon possession and/or violent behaviour;
- A risk of harm-analysis history can be developed over time, providing insight into how to assist those with previous police interactions.
Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Lumby said the implementation across Interior RCMP detachments “reflects our government’s commitment to ensuring people in crisis receive timely, compassionate and appropriate care, as we continue to work to strengthen mental-health services so people can access these supports close to their home.”
HealthIM has already been in use in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario as well as various locations throughout BC including Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland and Prince George. In BC outcomes are said to have been positive with a 46 per cent decrease in apprehensions, 39 per cent reduction in hospital wait times, and 37 per cent increase in hospital admission rates.
HealthIM has been rolled out throughout the Interior with Osoyoos and Oliver detachments now using the device.
The Province provided $2 million annually to the BC Association of Chiefs of Police to support the rollout of HealthIM across municipal police departments and RCMP detachments throughout BC.
“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.”
