As the provincial police service, frontline Saskatchewan RCMP officers are often the first on scene when a person experiences a mental health emergency.
"These calls can be some of the most serious a police officer responds to," says S/Sgt. Stephen Bergerman, acting North District Commander. "Situations involving people in mental health crisis are complex and dynamic. Our officers demonstrate empathy and patience when responding to these calls for service while keeping the best interests of our clients and everyone's safety in mind. Saskatchewan RCMP officers are committed to connecting a person experiencing a mental health crisis with medical care when required."
- On May 28, 2023, a detachment in the North District received a report of a missing teenage boy. Officers conducted proactive patrols to search for him for several hours, while nighttime fell.
At about midnight, the detachment received a call of an individual armed with a knife at a location in the detachment area. Officers immediately responded and found the boy, who was distraught and holding a knife. He continued to wave the knife – and asked the officers to kill him.
Officers spoke with the boy, using verbal de-escalation skills. After a short time, the boy agreed to drop the knife. Officers were then able to take the boy into custody under the Mental Health Act and transport him to hospital for medical treatment.
- On May 22, 2023, a detachment in the North District received a report of a teenage boy, who indicated he was planning to harm himself. Officers determined the boy had travelled to a nearby wooded park. They searched the area, which included rugged terrain, extensively.
The officers located the boy, who was injured and in need of immediate medical attention. Officers provided initial first aid and carried the boy through thick brush until they were able to safely transfer him to EMS. He was taken to hospital for further treatment.
"These two incidents were volatile – there was an urgent and significant risk to the safety of these youth's lives," says S/Sgt. Bergerman. "Our police officers kept their heads clear and were strategic with their actions to ensure two youth were safely connected with emergency health care. We send these boys – and their families – our warmest thoughts as they heal and recover. We share these stories, with identifying features removed, to demonstrate that responding to mental health crises is part of policing, and that our utmost priority is ensuring the safety of all people involved."
Saskatchewan RCMP uses the Incident Management/ Intervention Model to assess and manage risk; learn more about it here. There are also a number of units and programs that support frontline police officers as they respond to critical mental health calls. These include:
- Saskatchewan RCMP's Critical Incident Response Team, which works to resolve critical incidents safely.
- Registered psychiatric nurses in Saskatchewan RCMP's Operational Communications Centre.
If someone around you is experiencing an acute mental health crisis and is at risk of harming themselves or others, dial 9-1-1.
For information about non-emergency mental health supports in Saskatchewan, visit here.