Winnipeg to consider new crisis response team for wellness calls

Winnipeg is exploring a new approach to handling 911 calls related to mental health and wellness crises. Mayor Scott Gillingham announced that the city council will review a third-party report proposing a community crisis response program.

“

Every day our 911 dispatchers receive calls from Winnipeggers who are in distress, dealing with complex mental health struggles, addiction or wellness concerns.

The "Winnipeg Community Crisis Response Model" report, authored by Maria Cotroneo of Pensa Consulting Inc., suggests a coordinated system to connect individuals in distress with appropriate community-based responders. Currently, such calls often default to police, firefighters, or paramedics, who may not be the most suitable responders for non-emergent, lower-risk situations.

“

Right now, the system defaults to sending police, firefighters or paramedics, because really, that’s the only option that are available at this moment.

"Everyone agrees that we cannot keep relying on the status quo," Gillingham stated at a news conference. The report's recommendations include ensuring multiple access points for community support, with 911 being one of them. When emergency services are contacted, a dispatching service would then connect callers to a specialized response team.

“

Everyone agrees that we cannot keep relying on the status quo.

These teams, comprising crisis responders, social workers, and mental health professionals, would provide immediate mobile intervention and follow-up support. The report estimates that more than 10,000 calls annually could be diverted to this alternative response. Gillingham described the initiative as a "smarter way forward" for the city.

“

What this work confirmed is that Winnipeg doesn’t need to build an entirely new system. We already have strong organizations, dedicated professionals, and community partners doing exceptional work every single day.