Self-harm may not technically be illegal, but police intervention is a common protocol for those concerned about an individual exhibiting the behaviour.

Weyburn Police Service has been called to a number of cases of indivuals threatening self-harm in recent weeks.

“There’s not a great amount of investigation, where we show up and somebody is alive, perhaps in the process of harming themselves, our real only concern is to get them to medical attention to get them the help that they need, so hopefully it doesn’t happen again,” said Deputy Chief Rod Stafford. “That’s pretty much our role in these things.”

Stafford noted what they look for in determining what to do next.

“We will look at causal factors, and try and have discussions with family members, have discussions with that person,” he said. “And be aware and provide whatever assistance we can, in terms of referring them to counsellors or referring them to mental health or whatever, to help them through the troubling times.”

He said that, in most cases, they do not have to force the person to go for help. However, there are exceptions.

“At the end of the day, if they’re exhibiting those kinds of behaviours in front of us when we’re standing there talking to them, we do have the authority to apprehend them under the Mental Health Services Act and take them, by force, if necessary, to the hospital to get that assessment and get that help,” said Stafford.