In this episode, host Jessica Samuels sits down with Innovation & Project Development Manager at CMHA Kelowna, Jamie Lloyd-Smith to introduce CRCL (Crisis Response Community Led), an innovative new service operated by CMHA Kelowna. CRCL offers a compassionate, community-driven alternative to traditional crisis response—one that does not involve law enforcement and is built on peer support, clinical expertise, and voluntary participation.

Jamie explains who CRCL is for, how it works, why peer experience is foundational, and how it fills a critical gap between crisis phone lines and emergency services. Drawing on insights from other BC communities already using this model, she highlights the power of being met by trained responders—without uniforms, judgement, or police presence—who can meet people where they are and on their terms.

CRCL launches in Kelowna in early 2026 and aims to provide immediate, human-centered support for anyone aged 13+ who is experiencing a mental health crisis.

Key Topics Covered

• What is CRCL?

• A mobile, community-led crisis response program.
• Stands for Crisis Response Community Led.
• Built to bridge the gap between crisis lines and 911.

• Why a community-led model matters

• Many people in crisis are met with police response—not always appropriate or trauma-informed.
• CRCL teams include clinicians and trained peers with lived experience.

• Role of Peer Support

• Peers bring empathy, credibility, and firsthand understanding of navigating mental health challenges.
• Their input shaped program design—from how phone calls are answered to how people are greeted.

• How CRCL works

• Service for anyone 13+—you can call for yourself or someone else.
• Call or text a dedicated number (to be released).
• A two-person team responds in person—no uniforms, no police.
• Fully consent-based: the individual in crisis directs the process.
• Focus on safety, de-escalation, listening, and co-creating a care plan.

• When to call CRCL

• “There is never a wrong time to call CRCL.”
• Crisis is self-defined.
• Early support can prevent emergencies.

• How CRCL fits with existing services

• Helps divert people from emergency departments and police involvement.
• Strong collaboration with first responders when safety concerns exist.

• Lessons from other BC communities

• Kelowna will be the 7th community to implement this model.
• Jamie shares insights from Victoria’s program, including partnerships, safety practices, and community relationships.

• Launch timeline

• CRCL Kelowna launches early 2026.
• CMHA Kelowna will release access details and resources as the program becomes available.

Notable Quotes

• “When we don’t include the voice of lived experience, we’re just going to get it wrong.” — Jamie
• “There is never the wrong time to call CRCL.”
• “You define what crisis looks like in your life—and your experience is valid.”
• “This program meets you where you’re at, with compassion, dignity, and choice.”

Resources & Links

• Learn more: A Way Forward Podcast page at cmhakelowna.org
• Have a question about CRCL or this episode? Email: awayforward@cmhakelowna.org

About the Podcast

A Way Forward: Conversations on Mental Health, presented by Beem Credit Union, explores timely and complex mental health topics with local experts, sharing insights that help build healthier, more compassionate communities.

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, host Jessica Samuels sits down with Matteo Stewart to explore the unique mental health challenges faced by gay men. Matteo shares his lived experience navigating identity, community, and mental health—from coming out in the 1990s, to the ongoing effects of societal expectations, to finding belonging and resilience later in life.

Together, they unpack what it means to be “out to yourself,” the impact of code-switching, the intersection of trauma and identity, and how political and social climates continue to affect 2SLGBTQIA+ mental health today. Matteo’s honesty about his own journey—including his cancer diagnosis and how community has become his lifeline—offers a moving reminder of the healing power of connection and authenticity.

Key Themes

- Identity & Mental Health: Understanding the mental health impacts of being “out” versus “not out,” and the internal work of self-acceptance.

- Code-Switching & Survival: How changing behaviour to fit in affects emotional well-being, even for those long out of the closet.

- Community & Connection: Why safe spaces and supportive networks are critical for thriving, not just surviving.

- Trauma & Resilience: The lasting mental health effects of discrimination, loss, and societal stigma—and the ways gay men build strength and healing.

- Barriers to Health Care: The inequities gay men face in accessing medical and mental health supports, particularly outside major urban centres.

Resources Mentioned:

https://checkhimout.ca/
https://pflagcanada.ca/
https://gmsh.ca/
https://advocacy-canada.lgbt/

Takeaway:

Matteo reminds us that mental health and identity are deeply intertwined—and that thriving comes from being seen, heard, and supported for who we truly are. Building community, finding purpose, and showing up authentically are not only acts of courage, but acts of healing.

The A Way Forward Podcast: Conversations on Mental Health is proudly presented by Beem Credit Union.