Mental health calls to P.E.I. RCMP up for 2nd year in a row

RCMP on P.E.I. are getting increasingly requires help in psychological well being conditions.

These calls vary from wellness checks, the place police are requested by a member of the family, buddy or neighbour to look in on somebody, to coping with folks in disaster who could also be a danger to themselves or others.

“In a few of these conditions we are the first level of contact. So, we strategy issues from a security perspective. This is not a legal matter,” RCMP mentioned Const.Gavin Moore.

RCMP fielded 634 calls in 2020. That rose to 720 final yr, and to 812 within the final 12 months. That is a rise of just about 30 per cent over two years in the past.

Moore didn’t wish to speculate on the reason for the rise, however in an emailed assertion Well being P.E.I. famous Islanders have needed to take care of uncommon pressures within the final couple of years.

“Together with financial pressures resulting from inflation and pandemic pressures which can be broad and impacted folks in some ways — together with adjustments to well being, social contact, and monetary wellbeing,” the assertion mentioned.

“These elements might play a task in rising crises conditions.”

Moore famous RCMP are assisted on many psychological well being calls by the province’s cell psychological well being items.