A digital smartphone app called Health IM being used by the Belleville Police Service on mental health calls is getting results.
Inspector Sheri Meeks told the Police Services Board today (Thursday) that the app is used to help police officers assess people experiencing mental crises on scene and how most effectively to deal with them.
Healh IM has lessened the number of people being brought to Belleville General Hospital for treatment and dropped officers’ wait times in hospital on mental health calls by more than an hour on average.
The app has often led officers to decide that the person is in need of counselling and needs not be arrested and it allows for instant referral to appropriate agencies.
Up next? A “mobile crisis response team” for mental health calls.
Slightly less than half (42%) of the Belleville Police Service’s calls for service involve mental health issues in one form or another.
Meanwhile, Sandie Sidsworth, Executive Director for the Enrichment Centre for Mental Health, had high praise for Belleville’s police officers, saying she’d received over 100 emails from people complimenting police for expert and compassionate response during what are often very volatile situations.
Deputy Police Chief Mike Callaghan, Board Chair Jack Miller, and Mayor Mitch Panciuk all stressed the quality of service and dedication of the city’s officers in their dealings with people in crisis.
“In these times especially, I wish there was less loud opinion without facts being given on policing and mental health and more discussion about the facts, about what’s actually going on” said the Mayor.
