Altona police officers have been responding to an increase in mental health calls in recent years.
Just this past week, noted Police Chief Dan Defer, members spent around 70 hours on three such calls for service.
He believes the reason for the increase is two-fold.
"A lot of it will have to do, of course, with the increase in substance abuse. But I think it's (also) becoming less stigmatized, so maybe people are a little more comfortable is coming out with issues and problems that they're dealing with.
The majority of people identifying that they need assistance, a lot of the time they aren't going to the police, they are going straight to medical facilities, doctors, counsellors who can help them. But sometimes, and the way the system is where some of the resources are lacking, it comes to a point where if they don't get timely assistance, they're turning to us."
"It does tie-up our resources."
When it comes to that point, Defer says some of calls simply require officers to connect people to the proper resources. Other times, they are arrested under the Mental Health Act and taken to a local hospital for formal assessment, and that is where officers beginning logging long hours guarding the person until they are admitted.
"It does tie-up our resources," admitted Defer. "Obviously, we don't take away from what's required in policing the community. It just means other officers are getting called in on their time off."
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This, explained the Police Chief, is an ongoing discussion happening among other law enforcement officials in Manitoba, as well as at the government level.
In fact, Defer is adding his voice to those seeking action on the province's Institutional Safety Officer (ISO) initiative here in the region - a program he says would free-up his officers to return to their regular duties sooner.
All this to say, however, Defer isn't discouraging anyone from reaching out if they need help.
"People need to support people and, if you're struggling, don't shy away from seeking assistance," he said. "Small problems tend to build and compound, becoming bigger and bigger. It could be as simple as just speaking with a counsellor. But the first step is just to come forward and seek assistance."