Rethinking Crisis Response: Building Community-Led Alternatives in Ontario

Ontario’s crisis response system often relies on police as the first point of contact for people experiencing mental health or substance-related distress. This approach can criminalize individuals instead of addressing the deeper issues—such as poverty, housing insecurity, and discrimination—that shape many crises. Community-led crisis models offer a different path. By centering lived experience, equity, and trauma-informed care, these services provide health and social responses rather than defaulting to law enforcement. With mobile teams, crisis lines, short-term housing supports, and partnerships across sectors, these models create low-barrier, accessible ways for people to seek help.In this episode of Disability Dialogues, Researcher, Criminology Professor and affiliate fellow Jessica Evans is joined by the Executive Director of the Gerstein Crisis Centre, Susan Davis, to discuss the limitations of current crisis response systems in Ontario. Which often involve police and criminalize individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises. Jessica, and Susan, advocate for community-led crisis responses that are built on equity, dignity, and anti-oppressive principles. The conversation underscores the importance of individualized care, addressing social determinants of health, and the need for more accessible and non-coercive mental health services. At the heart of this approach is dignity, choice, and autonomy—meeting people where they are and recognizing that mental health care is not just medical, but deeply tied to social conditions. Investing in these alternatives has the potential to transform crisis response into something that truly supports wellbeing.Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:Explore ways to increase funding and resources for community-based, non-coercive mental health crisis response services.Advocate for a greater focus on upstream solutions, such as improving access to housing, income support, and mental health care, to prevent the need for crisis intervention.Discover the information about the Gerstein Crisis Centre,'s services and how to access them, including the crisis line for yourself or someone you know in need.ResourcesExplore the CERC in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing’s ⁠Website⁠Jessica Evans and Susan Davis: WebsiteDr. Karen Soldatic: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠CERC Profile⁠Toronto Metropolitan University: ⁠Website⁠SSHRC – Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council: ⁠Website⁠ CIHR – Canadian Institutes of Health Research: ⁠Website⁠ NSERC – Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada: ⁠WebsiteEnjoyed this Episode?If you did, be sure to subscribe and share it with your friends! Disability Dialogues is a podcast that explores bold ideas, community-led research, and inclusive practices shaping the future of healthcare and wellbeing.Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. Share it with friends and colleagues. Let’s inspire more people to co-create change.Find out more about the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing at https://www.torontomu.ca/cerc-health-equity/Thank you for tuning in!