Starting today, Thursday, August 15, community members in Centretown can call 2-1-1 to access the Alternate Neighbourhood Crisis Response (ANCHOR) for culturally sensitive and trauma-informed mental health and substance use supports.
0:02 - Centretown welcomes a new service, ANCHOR, the Alternate Neighbourhood Crisis Response.
0:07 - Community members in Centretown can call 2-1-1 if they or someone else are
0:12 - experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, or if they need a wellness check.
0:16 - ANCHOR provides free, confidential,
0:18 - in-person mental health support, available twenty-four seven.
0:23 - [John] Instead of a police-based response, ANCHOR offers a community-based,
0:27 - compassionate and equity-centered response to mental health crisis calls and wellness checks.
0:33 - We can connect to other services, resources,
0:35 - and follow-up supports – just let us know how we can help.
0:38 - [Suzanne] If you or someone you know is in a
0:40 - mental health or substance use crisis, ANCHOR is here for you.
0:44 - Our mobile teams will come to you 24 hours a day/ 7 days per week. We are trained to handle
0:50 - tough situations with care and compassion. We represent a diversity of communities and
0:56 - practice cultural humility. Many of us have lived through crisis and understand trauma.
1:03 - For more information, visit the website. We’re here to help.
Community-based and client-focused, ANCHOR provides free, confidential support for individuals aged 16 and older in Centretown experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
ANCHOR’s Crisis Response Teams are trained to handle crises using a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed approach. Mobile teams of outreach and peer support workers will respond to non-violent, non-emergency calls and provide a wellness check or in-person support throughout a crisis. They will also offer referrals to follow-up services for continued crisis care, like counselling resources or food banks.
Access this alternate response by calling 2-1-1, where teams are ready to help in English and French and have access to simultaneous interpretation to support care in other languages.
Visit the ANCHOR webpage on centretownchc.org to learn more.
About ANCHOR
ANCHOR is a collaborative effort of Centretown Community Health Centre (CCHC), Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC) and Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario/211 East Ontario (CNEO/211) with funding from the City of Ottawa.
In 2023, the Ottawa Guiding Council for Mental Health and Addictions selected these community partners to deliver a safer alternate response. ANCHOR was co-developed by the community and builds upon existing outreach and response programs that have been led by Centretown CHC and Somerset West CHC for years.
Other supports are available for individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis and are looking to connect with someone, including:
- Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region: 613‑238‑3311
- National Suicide Crisis Helpline: 9-8-8
- Mental Health Crisis Line: 613‑722‑6914 or 1‑866‑996‑0991
- Ottawa Public Health’s Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health Services and Resources page
The implementation of a safer alternate response is one of the strategies included in the City’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan and 2023–2026 Strategic Plan. To stay up-to-date with the latest information about ANCHOR, sign up to receive the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan newsletter.
For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.