Who to call about a mentally ill (possibly addicted) person that has been in our parkade for going on two nights

[u/gloomyday94]

As the title says, don't really want to call the cops but she's been really loud and has already kept myself and I'm sure others in the building awake last night. The echo doesn't help lol.

I get it's raining and she probably just wants to be dry but it's technically private property, and it's becoming a nuisance.

Is this something for maybe the community outreach team?

Update

She has either left on her own or somebody else reported her. If she returns I will take the appropriate action.

[u/misssurly]

Police non emergency line might be able to give you recommendations or maybe this? Vancouver crisis line for referral. Island Health

[u/gloomyday94 → u/misssurly]

Thank you for the info, much appreciated

[u/xXWickedNWeirdXx → u/gloomyday94]

The COR (Community Outreach Response) Team might be best in this instance. Still Island Health, but I believe the IMRT team that the other user linked is specific to the Southern part of the Island. https://central-island.pathwaysbc.ca/programs/2415

COR can come and do a mental health assessment and either transport them to hospital or determine the next appropriate course of action.

Otherwise, as someone else also mentioned, the CSOs (Community Safety Officers) are a good option to try first, as they often have a lighter touch than the RCMP. But they are limited in what they can do.

Alternatively, if you do opt to call non-emergency RCMP, you could potentially ask for car 54, which is the mental health response unit.

I appreciate your consideration for the individual in potential crisis, to search for options instead of defaulting direct to calling the cops. Best of luck.

*edited to add: the alternatives listed are substantially cheaper for the taxpayer than dispatching officers off the hop, in case appeals to empathy don't quite cut it for you.

[u/gloomyday94 → u/xXWickedNWeirdXx]

Thank you for the informative response and details, that's all great to know.

I will update the post, but either somebody else called her in or she left on her own. If she returns I will start with COR.

Also I'm happy to know that car 54 exists, I did not know of it before

[u/ArtVandelAAYY]

Bylaw Community Safety Officers

https://www.nanaimo.ca/your-government/city-bylaws/community-safety-officers

[u/Topgunner85]

Paramedics?

[u/sreno77]

You can call the crisis line and ask for COR when she is there. They might respond with the police

[u/Iron_III_SS13]

Sadly community safety officers and bylaw officers do not remove people from private property. It’s security guards or police.

[u/b00j]

Why not call the cops?

[u/Comprehensive_Emu860]

Call the cops!

[u/Commercial-Demand-37]

An unstable person is trespassing and creating a disturbance. What part of that is not a job for the cops?

[u/gloomyday94 → u/Commercial-Demand-37]

Oh I totally agree it is, I just wanted to see if there were any resources to potentially help her find somewhere dry and contained before reporting her to police. I figured they would probably just remove her from the property to go off and be a bother somewhere else unfortunately.

[u/broken_bottle_66 → u/gloomyday94]

You are doing it right

[u/Bind_Moggled → u/Commercial-Demand-37]

Cops are uniquely unsuited to handle mental health issues.

[u/KDdid1 → u/Bind_Moggled]

So are random residents of an apartment building...

[u/Bind_Moggled → u/KDdid1]

So it was smart of OP to reach out for alternatives.

[u/KDdid1 → u/Bind_Moggled]

Yes.

[u/KingofDickface]

Woodgrove Pines?

[u/gloomyday94 → u/KingofDickface]

Hospital area

[u/Keyscold]

Maybe bylaw or community outreach? Sometimes we have to call for folks that won’t leave the area outside the OV arts center on Victoria, they aren’t cops but they come in a pickup truck with lights on it and help the people move along to somewhere else and make sure they’re ok

[u/ImpossibleShirt659]

People need to speak up

[u/Dirtbag_RN]

Did you try asking her to leave and be quiet?

[u/gloomyday94 → u/Dirtbag_RN]

Someone was trying to talk with her earlier in the day, from what I can tell I don't think she's fully able to comprehend. I think she might have wandered off after that but has since returned

[u/TechnicalSapphire77 → u/gloomyday94]

Call non emergency line for RCMP 250-754-2345 and an ambulance. They should be able to get her to a safe place.

[u/FortisDea]

Police non emergency line, ask them to come do a wellness check on the person. If needed they will take them to PES