B.C. expands mental health screening tool for police officers provincewide

British Columbia is expanding access to a mental health screening tool for police officers. The HealthIM system will now be available in the Thompson and Shuswap regions starting Wednesday. The province has allocated £2 million yearly to support its rollout across all municipal forces and RCMP detachments. HealthIM guides officers through a structured set of questions when responding to someone in crisis. The tool helps them decide whether a person needs emergency care or could benefit from community-based support instead.

The system is already in use across several B.C. regions, including the Boundary, Okanagan, West Kootenay, and southern Vancouver Island. It also operates in Prince George, the East Kootenays, Port Moody, Nelson, Delta, and Surrey. Beyond British Columbia, HealthIM has been adopted in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. RCMP Supt. Michelle Tansey praised the expansion, noting it allows officers to respond more effectively in real time. The tool improves data collection and ensures better communication between police and healthcare workers. It can also flag violent behaviour, helping medical staff prepare before a patient arrives.

The province’s £2 million annual funding will support the wider implementation of HealthIM. Police departments and RCMP detachments across B.C. will now have access to the system. The Canadian Press first reported on the expansion on May 22, 2026.