Ottawa's innovative ANCHOR crisis response program is growing. The team, which pairs mental health workers with paramedics to respond to mental health calls instead of sending police, is expanding its coverage area to include more Ottawa neighbourhoods, the city announced.
What Is ANCHOR?
ANCHOR stands for A New Approach to Community Health and Outreach Response. It's part of a growing movement in Canadian cities to divert certain emergency calls away from police and toward specialized mental health teams who are better equipped to de-escalate crises without the presence of armed officers.
In Ottawa, the program has been operating in the central parts of the city since its launch, handling thousands of mental health-related emergency calls. The data has been encouraging: ANCHOR teams have successfully resolved the vast majority of calls they've attended without requiring police backup, and feedback from both clients and frontline workers has been positive.
Where Is It Expanding?
The expansion means residents in additional Ottawa neighbourhoods will now have access to ANCHOR response when they call 911 or 311 with a mental health concern. The city has not yet released the full list of newly covered areas, but the expansion is expected to reach several communities in the east and west ends of Ottawa that were previously outside the program's zone.
Why This Matters for Ottawa
Mental health calls have been one of the fastest-growing categories of emergency responses in Ottawa and across Canada. Police officers, while trained in crisis intervention, are increasingly recognized as not always the ideal first responder for mental health situations, particularly for individuals who have had difficult past interactions with law enforcement.
By sending ANCHOR teams, composed of paramedics and mental health clinicians, the city aims to get people better help more quickly while also reducing the workload on Ottawa Police Service.
A Model Worth Watching
Ottawa's ANCHOR program is being watched closely by other Canadian cities exploring similar models. Toronto's Community Crisis Response pilots, Vancouver's Car87 program, and Calgary's Integrated Mobile Crisis Outreach have all grappled with similar questions about how best to respond to mental health emergencies. Ottawa's expansion of ANCHOR positions the city as a leader in this space.
For Ottawa residents in the newly covered areas, the expansion means a meaningful new resource is available when someone they know, or they themselves, needs help.
Source: CBC Ottawa
