The situation table process is designed to alleviate the stress on Nanaimo RCMP officers while getting those in need the help they deserve. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

situation table

New process in place to ease police burden and help service providers

Mar 12, 2021 | 6:21 PM

NANAIMO – A new method of handling mental health calls will hopefully get help to those who need it most.

The system known as a situation table is being implemented in Nanaimo, the province announced on Friday, March 12.

The situation table process, already implemented in 10 B.C. cities, is a daily meeting to identify which police files are best handled by service providers instead of police.

Nanaimo MLA and minister for mental health and addictions Sheila Malcolmson said it’s coordinated problem solving.

“No longer are the agencies each alone when working with the same individual and not being able to get to the root of the problem. They’re information sharing, talking to each other about the best way to get support,” Malcolmson told NanaimoNewsNOW.

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Nanaimo RCMP leadership, when presenting quarterly statistics to Nanaimo councillors, have been blunt in saying mental health calls are taking up more and more police resources and causing strain.

“As the Nanaimo RCMP have said, everyone knows their number and knows they work 24/7 but they aren’t always the people who can actually solve the problem,” Malcolmson said. “Some of these calls are really not criminal in nature.”

Malcolmson said cities implementing situation tables have seen success, where service providers coordinate to provide assistance and police are freed up to tackle criminal complaints.

In Nanaimo, the process of setting up the situation table is underway.

At the moment, Nanaimo RCMP, Island Health and the ministry of children and family development are involved. Service providers, such as BC Housing and the Nanaimo Brain Injury Society, are expected to be involved.

A $30,000 grant was provided by the province for the purpose of training for the new way of handling difficult situations and files.

Situation tables are also being implemented in Campbell River and Duncan.

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt