August 15, 2025--media release from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

NELSON--The Province and the Nelson Police Department have launched HealthIM, a digital public-safety tool designed to improve officer response to people in crisis.

"When people are in distress because of a mental-health or substance-use emergency and they call the police, we need a rapid risk-screening tool to make sure they are safe and connected to the care they need," said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. "HealthIM has proven to be a valuable asset to help police officers safely and effectively deescalate complex situations. Our government will continue to support law enforcement with initiatives that are making a real difference on the ground."

HealthIM is a digital public-safety system to improve emergency police response in mental-health and addiction crisis situations, increasing safety for first responders, health-care providers and the person in crisis. By facilitating better communication, HealthIM aims to help officers gain insight into the factors behind a person's behaviour, leading to more informed and compassionate interactions. 

"When someone is facing a mental-health or substance-use crisis, timely, compassionate care can be lifesaving," said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. "By improving how police and healthcare teams share information, HealthIM ensures people in crisis are met with compassion and connected more quickly to the care they need. This is another step toward a more responsive, integrated system throughout B.C."

The responding officer is guided through a series of questions using HealthIM to help facilitate a better assessment of the person in crisis. The system also improves communication with health-care partners by using consistent clinical language and provides critical information to doctors and nurses immediately. Other benefits include:

• the assessment of risk of harm to self or others, which helps determine the best way that person can receive help;
• provides specific safety and de-escalation information about the person to facilitate a trauma-informed response, leading to better outcomes;
• alerts health-care partners to incoming people escorted by emergency responders and flags instances of weapon possession and/or violent behaviour; and
• a risk of harm-analysis history can be developed over time, providing insight into how to assist those with previous police contact.

As part of its commitment to building safer communities, the B.C. government provides $2 million annually to the BC Association of Chiefs of Police to support the rollout of HealthIM across municipal police departments throughout the province. HealthIM launched in Nelson on May 28, 2025, in partnership with Kootenay Lake Hospital, and will help ensure that individuals in crisis receive timely and appropriate care.

To learn more about HealthIM, visit: https://www.healthim.com/

To learn more about the Safer Communities Action Plan, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/safe-communities/