Ottawa's ANCHOR Program Shows Promise in Diverting Mental Health Crisis Calls
2025-03-03
Ottawa Citizen
The City of Ottawa's innovative Alternative Neighbourhood Crisis Response (ANCHOR) program has made a significant impact in its first three months, effectively diverting mental health and drug crisis calls from police to a community response team. This $8.85 million pilot project aims to provide a more compassionate and specialized approach to crisis intervention, and early results indicate a meaningful reduction in police involvement. By leveraging community resources and expertise, the ANCHOR program is paving the way for a more holistic and supportive response to mental health emergencies, with a focus on crisis management and substance abuse treatment.
