RCMP add mental health nurse to crisis team in Wood Buffalo

For the first time, Fort McMurray has a psychiatric nurse working alongside local RCMP officers. 

A nurse attended calls with the RCMP for the first time this week through the Police and Crisis Team (PACT).  

The program is the result of a collaboration between Alberta Health Services and the RCMP. 

Const. Dayna Gosselin is the RCMP officer who will be responding to calls with the psychiatric nurse. 

She said she's seen numerous calls regarding mental health and she thinks having mental health support will "be a great benefit to our team." 

Gosselin's background is in mental health, as she used to work in social services, youth custody and support groups for addictions and mental health. 

PACT responded to a call on the first day of the program, and Gosselin said she's using the experience as a learning opportunity to better respond to future calls.

Many of the calls to the RCMP regarding mental health include family or friends calling about a loved one they are worried may harm themselves or is having suicidal ideations.

Gosselin said that part of the team's routine will be following up with people they've seen in the community to make sure the referrals are working for them. 

"We're hoping to divert individuals away from the hospital system as well as the criminal justice system and hopefully connect them with resources within the community that keep them happy and healthy," said Gosselin. 

Rosilita Jn-Pierre, manager of addiction and mental health for Alberta Health Services in Fort McMurray, started working to bring the program to Fort McMurray two years ago.  

She said it was a "long and slow process" to get the team together and operating during the pandemic and she's excited to see the start of the work.

"The goal here is meeting them in the community where they are at," said Jn-Pierre.

The nurse can help divert people away from the hospital, instead referring them to resources that may be more helpful, like addictions centres.