Kelowna RCMP says use of the mental health act is on the rise in the city.
“Right now we are spending a lot of our time conducting police work that is probably health work,” Kelowna RCMP Inspector Adam MacIntosh said during a media availability.
MacIntosh didn’t have exact numbers, but said the detachment gets multiple mental health-related calls every day.
Kelowna RCMP partners with Interior Health and a nurse specializing in mental health travels with officers when available.
MacIntosh noted work is being done to bring in more trained health professionals.
“There are clear circumstances that are health-related. If a person has a mental health issue, they’re in crisis but they pose no danger to anyone, that’s a health reason. We are getting called to those and we want to eliminate that.”
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