(Lethbridge Police Service)

By David Opinko

LPS to join new provincial mental health response platform this spring

Jan 27, 2022 | 10:16 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge Police hopes that a new platform will aid them in responding to calls that involve a person in a mental health crisis.

LPS hopes to join the provincial roll-out of the Health IM digital crisis response platform sometime in April.

Officers will be given duty-issued cell phones that will support them while interacting with people experiencing a mental health crisis and who are at risk of harm.

Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh says it will also aid members in communicating their observations to the appropriate health care professionals.

“Our members respond to a number of calls based on addictions and mental health issues, and through this readily available use of technology they can quickly access the resources to better serve these clients in a safer and more effective manner.”

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Health IM provides officers with a pre-response safety briefing and aims to support their professional judgment in assessing whether a person should be taken to a designated facility for evaluation. It will connect the person to community service partners if further intervention is not warranted.

Officers will also learn about de-escalation techniques to support peaceful resolutions, any known triggers, and other information compiled from previous interactions with an individual in crisis, including weapons possession and any violent behaviour.

“Chief Mehdizadeh and leaders from across the Lethbridge Police Service have prioritized the needs of vulnerable individuals suffering from mental health challenges in crisis,” says Dan Pearson Hirdes, President of HealthIM. “Thanks to funding from the provincial government, HealthIM will further empower LPS members to provide a safer and more evidence-informed response to emergency crisis situations”

Albertans experiencing mental health challenges are encouraged to visit alberta.ca/mentalhealth, call the Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642, or 9-1-1 in an emergency.