RCMP detachments in the Interior now have access to HealthIM
Summary
- HealthIM launched in the Boundary, Okanagan and West Kootenay regions on April 29, 2026, with the Thompson and Shuswap regions expected to launch on Wednesday, May 27, 2026
- This evidence-based, risk-screening tool supports police response with mental-health-related calls
- Overall, HealthIM outcomes have been positive: 46% decrease in apprehensions, 39% reduction in hospital wait times, and 37% increase in hospital admission rates.
Police agencies, health-care providers and people in crisis in the Interior will benefit from the launch of a digital public safety tool to support officer response to people in crisis.
"Supporting people in our community suffering from mental-health challenges is extremely important to me," said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Lumby. "HealthIM is a key resource that supports police when they respond to people experiencing a mental-health crisis. 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."
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.
HealthIM launched at RCMP detachments throughout the Interior on April 29, 2026, including:
- Okanagan:
- RCMP: Kelowna, Keremeos, Lake Country, Penticton, Princeton, Oliver, Osoyoos, Summerland, Vernon and West Kelowna
- BC Highway Patrol: Kelowna, Keremeos and Falkland
- West Kootenay/Boundary:
- Castlegar, Grand Forks, Kaslo, Midway, Nakusp, Salmo, Slocan Lake and Trail
Health IM will launch at RCMP detachments on May 27, 2026, including:
- Thompson/Shuswap:
- RCMP: Ashcroft, Barriere, Chase, Clearwater, Clinton, Kamloops, Logan Lake, Lillooet, Lytton, Merritt, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Sicamous and Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc
- BC Highway Patrol: Merritt, Kamloops, Revelstoke
"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."
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
- 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
"HealthIM is helping ensure that people experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis are met with compassionate, timely and co-ordinated care," said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. "By improving communication between police and health-care teams, this tool supports more trauma-informed responses and better continuity of care. Its full implementation across the southeast policing district is an important example of how we are working across systems to provide better support for individuals, families and communities throughout the Interior of B.C."
Working with community partners
As part of its commitment to building safer communities, government provides $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 B.C.
"We're seeing real momentum build across British Columbia," said Deputy Chief Andrew Chan, Vancouver Police Department, and president, BC Association of Chiefs of Police. "This progress reflects a more evolved approach across police and health care, supporting better decisions in the moment and ensuring people in crisis are directed toward care, not drawn further into the justice system. This is meaningful progress for communities across the province, and we are grateful for the Province's sustained leadership and investment in advancing this work."
Quotes:
Sylvia Weir, president and chief executive officer, Interior Health -
"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. 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."
Staff Sgt. Chris Dodds, B.C. RCMP Southeast District -
"HealthIM gives front-line officers a structured tool to better assess risk, support informed decision-making, and strengthen co-ordination with health-care professionals during mental-health-related calls. This approach helps ensure individuals in crisis are connected more efficiently to the care and support they need, while improving collaboration between police and health-care partners."
Steve Morrissette, MLA for Kootenay-Monashee -
"Police officers in our Province are doing an exceptional job at keeping our communities safe. As the demands of policing evolve, so must our response. Expanding HealthIM across B.C. is an important step forward, and I want to thank all our partners for their continued leadership and collaboration in this work."
Victor Cumming, mayor of Vernon -
"The launch of HealthIM in Vernon is another positive step toward improving how our community responds to mental-health-related calls. Strengthening police response to those in mental-health crisis continues to support individuals, families and the broader community."
Quick Facts:
- Currently, HealthIM is implemented in all municipal police departments and RCMP detachments on south Vancouver Island, including Saanich, Central Saanich, Victoria/Esquimalt and Oak Bay, Sidney/North Saanich, Sooke, and West Shore, as well as the Outer Gulf Islands (Galiano, Mayne, Pender and Saturna).
- HealthIM was implemented in the East Kootenays on 25, 2026.
- The Port Moody, Nelson and Delta Police Departments, Prince George RCMP and Surrey Police Service use the program as well.
- HealthIM is also available in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
Learn More:
- To learn more about HealthIM, visit: https://www.healthim.com/
- To learn about how the Province is building safer communities, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/safe-communities
