Violent calls related to mental health disorders are on the rise in Winnipeg, police say

Mental health calls to Winnipeg police are increasingly turning violent, the force is protesting.

The Winnipeg Police Service wants to work harder to ensure the trend doesn't continue, advocating for ways to deescalate the situation before it becomes a safety hazard.

Acting Winnipeg Police Chief Art Stannard said, “Our members are seeing an increase in violence related to different types of calls, including mental health, family issues, welfare checks, drug calls, addiction calls.”

“It appears to be a common thread of violence or weapons associated with these calls. It seems to have become a regular occurrence for our members.”

WPS says the number of health checks – violent or not – increased by four percent from 2022 to 2023. Officers attended 21,000 inspections, about 58 a day – 16 per cent higher than the five-year average.

The 911 calls are the fourth year in a row Winnipeg's “citizen's call for service” has been made, the police force said.

“And it's important to note that we often don't know about security threats until we arrive,” said Bonnie Emerson, WPS community outreach director.

“Mental health can have a profound effect on people's well-being. Events are emotionally charged. Our members will have limited information when they respond.”

Stannard and Emerson held a news conference Wednesday after being told by Winnipeg police police officers shot and killed a 59-year-old man A “large, edged weapon” was used in his North End home on Tuesday morning.

Officers were at the home to transport the man to hospital for a non-voluntary medical evaluation under the Manitoba Mental Health Act (MHA).

The MHA explains how police officers can detain people with mental health problems for involuntary medical examinations. The order is approved by a court of law and can be obtained by a family member, community worker, doctor or mental health facility.

“We have to do it,” Emerson said. “And we can't do it alone. Officers are human. they are required to make life-and-death decisions in situations of high stress and unknown danger. They do the best they can with the conditions they're presented with and the training and equipment they're given.”

According to Emerson, in 2023 there were more than 2,000 incidents coded under the Mental Health Act – about six calls a day. Among them, the police had to arrest more than 1100 people.

“We're seeing an increase in annual averages,” he said.

Winnipeg Police has a number of initiatives that collaborate with community partners, such as the Alternative Citizen Crisis Response (ARCC), an officer-medical response team.

Emerson wants more coordination with community actors and other partners “involved in the social security system” to prevent the situation from escalating.