OLDS — Olds RCMP responded to 10 mental health calls in March, far higher than the normal two or three, Sgt. Greg Beach says.
Beach gave that statistic during an interview with reporters March 29.
“We just kind of wonder what’s causing it, whether it’s drug use (or) people are stressed to the point where they’re having mental health crises.”
Beach noted that normally, mental health calls are dealt with by ambulance personnel (Emergency Medical Services, known as EMS).
Police are called if the situation is deemed dangerous.
"That’s kind of our forte. We go in and we mitigate the violent part of it, gain control, and then EMS then comes in and does the medical side of things," Beach said.
"Under the Mental Health Act, we’re able to detain them and get them to a facility.
“Or, if we’re fortunate enough that we're able to calm them down to the point where they'll go with the ambulance folks then that’s a good thing too.”
Beach said in the end, the alleged people involved are sent to mental health facilities in Red Deer.
