West Shore RCMP Mental Health Unit

The West Shore RCMP is committed to providing compassionate, professional support to individuals and families experiencing mental health crises. To ensure the best possible outcomes, we utilize a collaborative approach that integrates law enforcement with healthcare expertise.

Co-response model

In partnership with Island Health, the West Shore RCMP operates a co-response team. This model pairs RCMP officers with Registered Nurses to attend calls together, often within the individual's home. By combining police and medical expertise, we can provide a coordinated response that focuses on providing the right support at the right time for the individual, their family, and their caregivers.

Mental Health Act apprehensions

When there are immediate concerns for the safety of an individual or the public, RCMP officers may apprehend a person under the Mental Health Act. In these instances, individuals are transported to a hospital for a professional medical assessment:

• Adults: Royal Jubilee Hospital
• Youth: Victoria General Hospital

2025 impact and statistics

Our unit manages a significant volume of mental health-related calls, reflecting the ongoing need for specialized crisis support in our community:

• Calls for Service: 2,022 mental health-related calls (a 5% increase over 2024).
• Mental Health Act Apprehensions: 283 individuals were apprehended and transported for medical assessment.
• Crisis Support: Our members dedicated over 86 days of active on-scene time to supporting individuals experiencing suicidal ideation.
• Hospital Coordination: Officers spent approximately 33 days accompanying apprehended individuals at hospitals to ensure they received the necessary medical assessments and care.