The Alberta RCMP are focusing on better supporting Albertans’ who are experiencing mental health crises by expanding the Regional Police and Crisis Team (RPACT).
RPACT is a collaborative partnership with the Alberta Health Services (AHS) and provides a crisis response team that is able to intervene, assess and work to stabilize individuals within the community.
An RPACT team is comprised of an RCMP officer and a Mental Health therapist from AHS, who respond together to mental health calls in the community.
The combination of law enforcement resources paired with mental health expertise ensures that an appropriate response is delivered, while ensuring public safety.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, in any given year, one in five people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.
In 2020, there were over 20,000 files in Alberta RCMP jurisdiction related to the Mental Health Act.
The Alberta RCMP have created a phased implementation plan that will have Regional Police and Crisis Teams available to all Alberta RCMP detachments over the coming three years.
RPACT assesses clients and conducts community interventions when possible, aiming to connect clients with community resources and divert service delivery from hospital emergency departments when appropriate.
Through a coordinated response to mental health situations in the community, RPACT provides timely interventions and reduces the burden on the health care system.
