Kamloops RCMP to get new mental-health screening tool

May 25, 2026 | 1:28 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP will be among other Thompson/Shuswap RCMP detachments getting access to a digital public safety tool aimed at supporting police responding to people in crisis.

B.C. government officials said the program, HealthIM, is meant to make mental health and addiction calls safer for first responders, healthcare providers and the person in crisis.

“Supporting people in our community suffering from mental-health challenges is extremely important to me,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Lumby.

“HealthIM is a key resource that supports police when they respond to people experiencing a mental-health crisis. The implementation across Interior RCMP detachments reflects our government’s commitment to ensuring people in crisis receive timely, compassionate and appropriate care, as we continue to work to strengthen mental-health services so people can access these supports close to their home.”

The province first rolled out the HealthIM program to detachments in the Okanagan and the Kootenays on April 29.

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On Wednesday (May 27), the program will be available to RCMP and BC Highway Patrol in Ashcroft, Barriere, Chase, Clearwater, Clinton, Kamloops, Logan Lake, Lillooet, Lytton, Merritt, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Sicamous and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.

Officials said HealthIM works by guiding the responding officer through a series of questions to better assess the person in crisis while using clinical language to better communicate with health-care providers.

“HealthIM is helping ensure people experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis are met with compassionate, timely and coordinated care,” said Health Minister Josie Osborne

“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 policing district is an important example of how we are working across systems to provide better support for individuals, families and communities throughout the Interior of B.C.”

The province said this system can build profiles for individual callers to help first responders deal with the call appropriately.

by Elora McCormack

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Kamloops RCMP to get new mental-health screening tool

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