WHEREAS police have become front line mental health workers responding to calls for service where, in many cases, the subject of complaint requires specialized medical or psychiatric care rather than police attention; AND WHEREAS the amount of time police spend in hospital guarding mental health clients can be significant and represents a poor use of police resources: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be requested to invest in resources to create an efficient process of mental health patient intake, including the provision of secure holding facilities and security personnel trained to guard patients in order to reduce the use of police resources in this capacity.
Ministry of Health The Province recognizes the difficulties that police officers face dealing with persons with severe mental illnesses andor substance use problems. As well, this client population consumes a disproportionate amount of health care resources, through repeat visits to hospital emergency rooms and other crisis response services. Whenever appropriate, redirection of individuals with mental illness andor substance use problems in contact with police to appropriate mental health, substance use, social and support services is essential. This process should be effective, efficient and based on best practices. In 2010, the Province released Healthy Minds, Healthy People: A Ten-Year Plan to Address Mental Health and Substance Use in British Columbia. The Plan takes a whole systems approach to mental health promotion, prevention of mental illness and problematic substance use, harm reduction and care, treatment and supported recovery. A specific action in the Plan recognizes the need for improved and coordinated responses for people experiencing mental health and substance use problems who are in contact with the criminal justice system. In February 2013, the Ministry of Justice MoJ released the BC Policing and Community Safety Plan BCPP that identifies actions to work with stakeholders to promote best practices and expand integrated policehealth initiatives across the Province and to develop resource-efficient and effective strategies for interaction between police officers and persons with a mental health andor substance use problem. In response, the Ministry of Health and the MoJ are working collaboratively on a number of joint projects at the provincial and regional level, including: -Development of a provincial Framework that will assist police and health authorities in developing localregional protocols for people experiencing a mental health andor substance use crisis that come into contact with police. This Framework will support improved information sharing and continuity of care through better integrated approaches and efficient and effective strategies to improve police and health care service interaction. This Framework will build on existing best practices and evidence-based models of care and include an efficient process of mental health patient intake. -Development of protocols between local hospital emergency and police departments in Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Fraser Health Authority. These protocols include changes to the sharing of information between police and the hospital emergency department and intake process of mental health patients detained under section 28 of the Mental Health Act. -In larger urban centres, mobile crisis team partnerships between health authorities and local police have been established to provide improved, community-based crisis care for those struggling with mental illness, such as Car 87 in Vancouver and Car 40 in Kamloops. -Thirteen Assertive Community Treatment teams exist in BC providing 247 wrap-around tertiary level community care to individuals with severe mental illness and concurrent substance use disorders, who have high hospital bed days, challenges in functioning with daily living, maintaining safe and appropriate housing and are often in contact with the correctional system. The Province recognizes that the safety and security of the police, health care staff, the general public and clients is paramount when dealing with complex and potentially aggressive behaviours. Health authorities have secure facilities in in-patient units designated under the Mental Health Act in every major community in the Province. Hospital standards and guidelines are under development for secure rooms that exist in all designated facilities, including rooms in the Emergency Department of the designated hospital. These standards will address health and safety risks of clients with complex behaviours requiring a safe environment, including training requirements for health care staff.