FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2026
HealthIM Implementation Advances Across Remaining RCMP Southeast District in Interior British Columbia
VANCOUVER, BC — A significant milestone in British Columbia’s coordinated approach to mental health crisis response has been reached with the near-complete rollout of HealthIM across the RCMP Southeast District, with final implementation expected in the coming weeks.
HealthIM is now operational across the majority of the Southeast District, including detachments in the Central Okanagan, South Okanagan, North Okanagan and West Kootenay regions. With the Thompson/Cariboo region expected to go live in the coming weeks, the rollout will complete HealthIM expansion across Interior British Columbia.
“The full implementation of HealthIM across the Southeast District represents a meaningful step forward in how our officers respond to individuals in crisis,” said Chief Superintendent Shawna Baher, Southeast District Commander. “Our frontline teams now have a structured, evidence-informed tool that supports better decision-making in the moment and strengthens coordination with our healthcare partners. This ultimately helps ensure individuals receive more appropriate, timely care when they need it most.”
Through a structured screening process, HealthIM helps promote more person-centered interactions, reduces duplication in hospital settings, and enhances continuity of care. The system also helps healthcare teams prepare for incoming individuals requiring assessment and support.
“HealthIM is helping ensure that people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis are met with compassionate, timely, and coordinated care,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “By improving communication between police and healthcare teams, this tool supports more trauma-informed responses and better continuity of care. Its full implementation across the Southeast District is an important example of how we are working across systems to provide better support for individuals, families, and communities throughout Interior B.C.”
The Southeast District rollout spans urban, rural, and remote communities, reflecting continued collaboration between police, health authorities, and provincial partners to improve how individuals in crisis are supported across the system.
“The HealthIM program strengthens partnerships in delivering patient-centred care, enables improved mental health and crisis supports for people who need it and better supports clinical care teams,” said Sylvia Weir, president and CEO, Interior Health. “It is designed to meet people where they are during times of crisis and focuses on delivering safe and culturally appropriate care. The positive impact of HealthIM in other Interior communities has been evident over the past several months, and we are pleased about this expansion to the Kootenay Boundary, Okanagan, and Thompson/Cariboo regions.”
HealthIM is now embedded in day-to-day operations across much of the Southeast District, with full implementation expected in the coming weeks following the operational onboarding across the Thompson/Cariboo region. This includes the following detachments: Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Revelstoke, Sicamous, Chase, Merritt, Logan Lake, Ashcroft, Clinton, Lillooet, Lytton, Clearwater, Barriere, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.
“HealthIM has proven to be a valuable asset to help police officers safely and effectively de-escalate complex situations by promoting safer interactions with people in crisis,” said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Our government will continue to make meaningful investments to support law enforcement in responding to a mental health or substance use emergency as the program rolls out province-wide this year.”
The initiative is led by the BC Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP) in partnership with provincial ministries, health authorities, and frontline policing agencies across British Columbia.
“We’re seeing real momentum build across British Columbia,” said Deputy Chief Andrew Chan, President of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police. “This progress reflects a more evolved approach across police and healthcare, supporting better decisions in the moment and ensuring people in crisis are directed toward care, not drawn further into the justice system. This is meaningful progress for communities across the province, and we are grateful for the province’s sustained leadership and investment in advancing this work.”
As implementation continues across other regions of the province, HealthIM remains focused on helping ensure people in crisis are connected to appropriate support earlier, with fewer gaps between policing, healthcare, and community systems.
Quick Facts
- Click here to view a short video of how the HealthIM system works: https://youtu.be/Q1cBLOmy8u4
- HealthIM will be fully implemented by May 27, 2026 across the RCMP Southeast District (SED), completing the regional rollout in Interior British Columbia.
- The implementation includes detachments across the Central Okanagan, South Okanagan, North Okanagan, Thompson, Cariboo and Kootenay regions.
- Total uses in the RCMP SED as of May 19 include 272 HealthIM files with 133 individuals apprehended under the Mental Health Act and transported to healthcare services for further assessment and support. Cranbrook was the first community to fully implement HealthIM in the SED and has been the largest user to date with 64 HealthIM files generated.
Participating communities include:
- East Kootenays: Cranbrook, Kimberley, Creston, Columbia Valley (Invermere/Radium), Golden, Elk Valley (Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford)
- Central Okanagan: Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country
- South Okanagan/Penticton Region: Penticton, Summerland, Oliver, Osoyoos, Keremeos, Princeton
- North Okanagan: Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby, Falkland, Lumby
- Thompson/Cariboo Region: Kamloops, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, Ashcroft, Barriere, Chase, Clinton, Logan Lake, Merritt, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Revelstoke, Clearwater, Lillooet, Lytton
- Kootenay/Boundary Region: Trail, Castlegar, Nelson Rural, Slocan Lake, Kaslo, Salmo, Grand Forks, Nakusp, Midway
Demonstrated outcomes across British Columbia include:
- In Prince George, apprehensions decreased by 42 percent within one year of implementation.
- Across participating jurisdictions, hospital admission rates increased by 37 percent, indicating individuals were more likely to receive appropriate and timely care.
- Early adopters including the Delta Police Department, Surrey Police Service, and Prince George RCMP have collectively supported more than 10,500 calls using HealthIM.
MEDIA CONTACTS
BC RCMP
Corporal Brett Urano
Division Media Relations Officer
BC RCMP Communication Services
brett.urano@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
778-290-4006
BC Association of Chiefs of Police
Leanne MacLeod
Interim Executive Director
BC Association of Chiefs of Police
leanne.macleod@bcacp.ca
About BCACP
The British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police is the professional voice of policing leadership in the province, representing senior police leaders dedicated to promoting public safety and effective, equitable policing services for all communities.