Mental health, addictions still a crisis in city: Monthly crime stats
September’s board of police commissioners meeting brought forward its crime statistics for the month of August on Tuesday.
The report showed an increase in mental health and addictions related calls for service. Regina Police responded to 144 suicide calls in the month of August alone, an average of five per day and up 20 from the month of June.
“A suicide call for service is definitely someone who is in crisis,” said Chief Evan Bray.
The 2022 average for these types of calls is just over 118 per month, meaning August saw an increase of over 20 per cent.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CHMA) said the number of people in crisis can fluctuate based on societal pressures like cost of living, housing or food insecurity.
“Those things could create the kind of stress that would be required to see those numbers climb,” said Rebecca Rackow. “There’s a number of reasons people start having intrusive thoughts about suicide but when you look at it from the population stand point, that can be a contributing factor.”
Bray said police’s duty during a call is often to de-escalate the situation and safely remove an individual from any harm. Police will then transport the individual to hospital or any other mental health services centre to get them the proper help they need.
“Sadly, we attend some suicides where it’s not someone who is thinking about it – they’ve actually committed suicide,” said Bray. “It happens at a fairly alarming rate. I just think it speaks to some of the challenges in our community.”
SUICIDE CALLS BY MONTH (Regina Police Service)
JAN |
FEB |
MARCH |
APRIL |
MAY |
JUNE |
JULY |
AUG |
94 |
120 |
113 |
123 |
128 |
126 |
124 |
144 |
The CMHA provides educational tools and classes for the public to learn how to help individuals in crisis.
“If you or someone you know is having a problem, the tendency is to back away,” said Rackow. “Please ask how you can help or see if they are safe. That can make all the difference.”
Other mental health crisis events, like overdose, remained high in the city.
Already in 2022, there have been 84 apparent overdose deaths, nine in August.
“On the street level, and as police chiefs across Canada, we support the notion of decriminalization,” said Bray. “Charging people [for possession of small amounts of illicit drugs] is not the solution for getting them healthy.”
AUGUST 2022 DRUG OVERDOSES - REGINA (Regina Police Service)
OCCURANCES |
POLICE ATTENDED |
APPARENT DEATHS |
POLICE NARCAN |
129 |
24 |
9 |
3 |
The report also highlighted crimes against persons are down about nine per cent compared to August 2021 while crimes against property is up about four per cent.
With 77 attempted or completed thefts of vehicles along with 487 crimes of theft under $5,000, Chief Bray said those types of crimes are headed back towards pre-pandemic levels.
CRIME STAT HIGHLIGHTS (Regina Police Service)
CRIME |
AUG 2022 |
AUG 2021 |
% CHANGE |
TOTAL CRIMES AGAINST PERSON |
259 |
304 |
-8.9% |
TOTAL THEFT & ATTEMPT THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE |
77 |
77 |
N/A |
THEFT UNDER $5000 |
487 |
425 |
14.6% |
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.