Police, fire or ambulance? Winnipeg launching 4th option for 911 mental health calls

The City of Winnipeg is introducing a fourth emergency response pathway to handle 911 calls that do not require the services of police officers, firefighters, or paramedics. Mayor Scott Gillingham explained that currently, dispatchers have only three options when someone calls 911 — sending police, firefighters, or paramedics. The new Winnipeg Community Crisis Response (WCCR) model aims to address mental health or addiction crises that pose no immediate danger to the individual or public.

According to Gillingham, the WCCR can respond only after a triage process conducted by dispatch. This addition will free up first responders, with estimates suggesting 10,000 calls could be redirected to the WCCR. The model remains under development and will likely undergo adjustments during a working table between the City of Winnipeg and the Manitoba government.

Miguel Betti, director of operations at the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, expressed support for the new approach, emphasizing the importance of innovative ideas as existing methods prove ineffective. The DCSP was consulted during the model's development, and its success hinges on effective communication among agencies interacting with the same individuals.

The WCCR concept has been tested in other Canadian cities, such as Toronto, where it was piloted in 2022 and became an official fourth emergency service two years later. Michael Anhorn, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Toronto, highlighted the significance of matching crisis response with professional support and connecting individuals in crisis to long-term assistance.

Anhorn commended the City of Winnipeg for embarking on this journey, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing human dignity over political ideology.