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.

Being a first responder means running toward the situations most of us run away from. But that comes with an emotional and mental toll. In this episode, Jessica speaks with Kelowna Fire Captain David McCarthy, who shares what it’s like to experience trauma on the job and how the fire department is working to ensure firefighters get the support they need.

David discusses the evolution of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) within the Kelowna Fire Department, the importance of peer support and early intervention, and how breaking the stigma around mental health has changed the culture for first responders. He also touches on new partnerships with CMHA Kelowna that are helping connect firefighters and their families to mental health resources and education.

Key Takeaways:

• Mental health support for first responders has come a long way — but it’s still evolving.
• Peer support and connection among crews can make all the difference after a traumatic call.
• Families play a crucial role in helping first responders find balance and healing.

Listen now to learn how Kelowna’s firefighters are building a healthier, more open approach to mental wellness — for themselves, their families, and their community.

A Way Forward: Conversations on Mental Health is presented by Beem Credit Union, proud to support honest conversations that help build stronger, healthier communities.

Resources
https://bcfirstrespondersmentalhealth.com/

https://bcfirstrespondersmentalhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Recommended-Practices-for-Supporting-Mental-Health-in-First-Responders-170615.pdf

https://www.bcpffa.net/mental-health-resources
Mental Health Support Services | Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna

In this powerful episode of A Way Forward, host Jessica Samuels sits down with Corey Hirsch — former NHL goaltender, Stanley Cup champion, Olympic silver medalist, broadcaster, and mental health advocate.

From the outside, Corey seemed to be living the dream at the height of his hockey career. But behind the mask, he was struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and suicidal thoughts that nearly cost him his life.

Corey opens up about:
-The hidden reality of living with OCD while playing in the NHL.
-Why stigma kept him silent for over 20 years.
-How sharing his 2017 Players’ Tribune article, “Dark, Dark, Dark”, changed the conversation for him and countless others.
-The importance of being “that person” someone can talk to without judgment.
-The tools he uses today to manage his mental health, from therapy and medication to exercise, meditation, and community.

This candid and inspiring conversation reminds us that talking about our struggles saves lives — and that healing begins when we break the silence.

✨ Key takeaway: Mental health is health. Be the person someone can turn to.

Resources & Links:
Dark Dark Dark - https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/corey-hirsch-dark-dark-dark
You are not alone - https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/corey-hirsch-you-are-not-alone
Canucks Hockey Talks Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOmVmAIXX7Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOmVmAIXX7Y

Learn more about OCD at www.cmhakelowna.org

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 in Canada to connect with suicide prevention support.

🎧 A Way Forward is presented by Beem Credit Union, with deep roots in BC and a commitment to supporting strong, healthy communities.