The province is investing $310,000 from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund to help nine police agencies respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis.
An evidence-based risk assessment tool called HealthIM will be added to patrol vehicles and on other mobile devices and be deployed with Winnipeg Police Service, Brandon Police Service, Manitoba First Nations Police Service, Ste. Anne Police Department, Winkler Police Service, Altona Police Service, Morden Police Service, Rivers Police Department and RCMP detachments in Steinbach, Thompson and Portage la Prairie. The tool will be used to help officers determine the most appropriate response when they come upon someone who is suffering a mental health crisis.
“In some cases, this might mean ensuring someone who is going through a mental health crisis is connected with a community service agency instead of taking them into custody or an emergency room. In other situations, the assessment will help officers recognize when someone is a risk to themselves or others so a more immediate intervention can be made,” said Justice Minister Cliff Cullen.
The HealthIM assessment tool is designed to help officers de-escalate dangerous situations but it can also help in low-risk situations by having the officer work with the person to co-ordinate a referral to a mental health agency. That agency would also receive a copy of the officer’s assessment.
The system will also let officers know if the person they are dealing with has had a mental health crisis that involved police before.
“This project is about having tools for the front lines that improve communication, enhance our connected services and ultimately improve outcomes for citizens,” said Deputy Chief Gord Perrier, Winnipeg Police Service. “Managing a crisis is difficult and each situation has different needs. Ensuring appropriate connection, intervention and or care that fits each individual is our goal.”
It is expected that all partner police agencies will have the HealthIM tool in place by the end of the year.
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