BC GOV NEWS: A death review panel examining the deaths of people who died during or within 24 hours following contact with police in BC says police are a de facto part of the mental health system and that the role of policing should be incorporated into the provincial mental health strategy, highlighting that more assessment and training opportunities exist. In the report “Opportunities for Different Outcomes – Police: A crucial component of BC’s mental health system,” three promising areas to reduce deaths and improve public safety were identified: Improve co-ordination between health services and police who encounter persons experiencing a mental health crisis; Increase access to mental health assessment, and improve referrals to services for persons experiencing other life stressors; and Utilize findings from police encounters with the public to inform ongoing police professional development. This review of 127 deaths ...
A discussion on political, economic and social issues in British Columbia, and Canada