VPD explains how it deals with increased number of mental health calls
Posted June 28, 2018 7:14 pm.
Last Updated June 28, 2018 7:52 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It’s been a five years since outgoing Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and then Vancouver Police Chief Constable Jim Chu declared a mental health crisis in the city while begging the provincial government for help and resources.
Now, the VPD says it has increased the number of initiatives the department has taken on to decrease the impact untreated mental health issues have on the community, policing and health care.
Pathway to Wellness: Vancouver Police and Health Care Team up to Help People Living with Mental Illness is a fictional story about a man named John who has a mental illness. The story tracks his first encounters with police and takes a look at his first interaction with officers while showing the resources available.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) says one-in-five Canadians lives with a mental illness. When untreated, they are 15 times more likely than the general public to be a victim of crime, and 23 times more likely to be the victim of a violent crime.
“The police are not mental health professionals,” says Chief Constable Adam Palmer. “We recognized early on that we were going to need to collaborate with experts in this area. Our coordinated teams are working together to make a real difference in the lives of people living with mental illness.”
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Vancouver Police say their officers undergo de-escalation training on an ongoing basis to ensure members know how to handle mental health calls.
Right now there are two separate teams that deal with the majority of those calls.
One is the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) unit that includes officers and mental health professionals that deal with those with severe mental illnesses who have regular contact with police.
The other is the Assertive Outreach Team (AOT), which is a first of its kind in BC. It follows up with people that have been flagged as potentially being problematic.
Under Section 28 of the Mental Health Act, a police officer can apprehend — not arrest — and take a person to the doctor to be checked out if the officer thinks the person may endanger themselves or others.
Mental illness, either treated or not, costs the health care system a lot of money. In 2016, it was estimated it was costing roughly $51 billion every year.
Number of VPD Apprehensions between 2010-2017 (source: VPD)
2017 – 2790
2016 – 2822
2015 – 3050
2014 – 3010
2013 – 2873
2012 – 2636
2011 – 2489
2010 – 2278
