HealthIM expansion aims to improve police response to mental-health crises in Northern B.C.

Proven Results in Prince George

HealthIM was first introduced at the Prince George RCMP detachment in late 2022. Officials say the program has already delivered measurable outcomes.

Within its first year, the detachment reported a 42 per cent reduction in apprehensions, driven by improved on-scene assessments and more evidence-based decision-making. Apprehensions dropped from 494 to 288 cases over 11 months, reflecting a shift away from custody and toward hospital admissions and community supports.

Police say the tool helps officers better understand the factors behind a person’s behaviour, leading to safer, more compassionate interactions.

Regional Rollout Underway

On June 17, 2026, the province, in partnership with the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP), expanded HealthIM to RCMP detachments across northeastern B.C.

Participating communities include:

RCMP detachments: 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 Williams Lake.
B.C. Highway Patrol units: 100 Mile House, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Northern Rockies, Prince George, Quesnel/Wells and Williams Lake.

The program is also expected to expand into the north coast region in the coming months, including communities such as Prince Rupert, Smithers, Terrace and Kitimat.

How HealthIM Works

HealthIM guides responding officers through a structured series of questions to assess individuals in crisis. The system uses consistent clinical language, improving communication between police and health-care providers and ensuring critical information is shared immediately.

Key features include:

Assessing risk of harm to self or others to guide appropriate care decisions
Providing trauma-informed de-escalation strategies tailored to the individual
Alerting hospitals about incoming patients, including potential safety risks
Building a history of past interactions to inform future responses

Health officials say this improves continuity of care and helps connect people to the right supports more quickly.

“People experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis deserve compassionate, timely and co-ordinated care,” said Health Minister Josie Osborne. “HealthIM strengthens communication between police and health-care teams, leading to better outcomes across northern B.C.”

Collaboration Across Agencies

The province is providing $2 million annually to the BCACP to support the rollout of HealthIM across municipal police departments and RCMP detachments.

Deputy Chief Const. Andrew Chan, president of the BCACP, said the expansion highlights the impact of collaboration between police, government and health-care providers.

“This program ensures responses are grounded in compassion and informed decision-making, regardless of where someone lives,” Chan said. “It’s a significant step toward a co-ordinated, provincewide approach.”

Northern Health officials echoed that sentiment, noting the program improves communication and patient care during crisis situations.

Broader Adoption Across B.C. and Canada

HealthIM is already in use across southern Vancouver Island, including Victoria, Saanich and surrounding communities, as well as in the Okanagan, Thompson and East Kootenay regions. It is also being used by several municipal police departments, including Surrey, Delta, Port Moody and Nelson.

Beyond British Columbia, the system has been implemented in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

A Shift Toward Compassionate Policing

Police leaders say the program allows officers to spend less time managing crisis situations through detention and more time focusing on community safety.

Superintendent Keny Floyd, North District commander for the B.C. RCMP, said the Prince George pilot demonstrated clear benefits.

“We’ve seen first-hand how HealthIM improves efficiency and strengthens collaboration with our health partners,” Floyd said. “It ensures the right response for individuals in crisis while keeping officers available in the communities they serve.”

As the rollout continues, officials say HealthIM represents a significant shift toward more informed, compassionate and co-ordinated crisis response across northern British Columbia.

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Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com

by Adam Berls