Crisis Response Community Led (CRCL) | Forward Focus #2 | A Way Forward

In this Forward Focus episode, Jessica Samuels and co-host Mike Gawliuk shine a spotlight on CRCL – Crisis Response Community Led, formerly known as PACT.

Jessica and Mike break down what CRCL is, how it works, and why this model matters now more than ever:

What is CRCL?
CRCL provides community-based, in-person mental health crisis support for individuals 13 years and older. It addresses issues like emotional regulation challenges and substance use crises, offering immediate support, connecting individuals to services, and providing follow-up care.

Why the name change from PACT to CRCL?
To reduce confusion with other similarly named programs, and to better align with its Peer Assisted Care Team (PACT) roots—a model recognized globally with over 200 programs in place.

How is CRCL different?
CRCL teams combine mental health professionals with individuals who have lived experience navigating mental health challenges. This pairing provides a more humane, empathetic, and relatable response during crises.

Where is CRCL operating?
Six CRCL teams are currently active across British Columbia, with a seventh launching soon in Kamloops. The provincial government has committed to expanding to 12 teams, including ones led by Indigenous organizations.

Will CRCL come to Kelowna?
Mike expresses hope, noting Kelowna's clear advocacy for a Circle team, especially highlighted in its community safety plan.

Connect with Us:
Got questions about Circle or mental health services?
📩 Email: [e-mail]
🌐 Website: cmhakelowna.org

A Way Forward Podcast is proudly presented by Beem Credit Union. BlueShore Financial, GFCU Savings, Gulf & Fraser, Interior Savings, and North Peace Savings are trade names of Beem Credit Union

Episode Transcript

Jessica Samuels (00:04):
Hello, I'm Jessica Samuels, and welcome to
Forward Focus, our quick hitbite sized episodes that give
you information and insights onthe things you want to know. Co
host CMHA Kelowna CEO MikeGullick and I would like to
acknowledge that this episodetakes place on the ancestral,
traditional and unseated landsof the Okanagan Silix people.

(00:28):
Mike, today's forward focus isabout Circle. Now, was
previously known as PACT. Solet's get into what is it and
what does it do?

Mike Gawliuk (00:37):
So Circle stands for Crisis Response Community
Led, and it is a community basedservice that provides in person
support for anyone over the ageof 13 that is experiencing a
mental health crisis. That couldbe related to emotional
regulation issues. It could havesomething to do with substance

(00:59):
use. The service comes to theindividual, works to resolve
that crisis, refers them tocommunity resources, and then
follows them after the fact. Sothere's an opportunity for them
to get connected into servicesto ideally prevent that from
happening again.

Jessica Samuels (01:17):
Okay, so and off the top there, I said that
it was formerly known as PACT.Is the concept or the idea of
those two things still the sameor I guess why the name change?

Mike Gawliuk (01:26):
Yeah. Well, I think part of the name change is
because name PACT was gettingconfusing because there's been
lots of PACTs all over theplace. What Circle is, though,
is a peer assisted care team,which is a practice that is used
around the world. There'sactually about 200 programs that

(01:50):
are peer assisted care teams.Really, what it boils down to is
that you have trained mentalhealth professionals that have
the skills in addressing crisis,but you also have people that
have lived experience.
They've had their own mentalhealth journey. They've
navigated the system. So theyhave a special understanding of
what that looks like, whichgenerally can provide a more

(02:13):
humane response, allow for abetter connection to follow, and
also in having lived thatjourney and navigated those
systems, be better able tosupport people in what might be
coming their way.

Jessica Samuels (02:25):
Okay. And so now that we're talking about
circle and this honed inevolution of it, how widely is
it used? Do we have them acrosscommunities? Do we have
multiples in communities?

Mike Gawliuk (02:38):
So there's currently six circles that are
operating in British Columbiawith a seventh to launch. They
may be testing at this moment inKamloops. The provincial
government has committed to 12circles across the province,
including some run by Indigenousorganizations.

Jessica Samuels (02:59):
Okay, so we can expect based on what we've seen,
but not only from as being amental health provider. Do you
think we can expect to be seeingmore of these in the
communities?

Mike Gawliuk (03:10):
What I would say is a mental health provider, I
mean, the stories are in thenews all the time. This is a
humane approach to dealing withsome of the crises that are
taking place. Is it a neededservice? Absolutely, 100%. Is it
a needed service in Kelowna?
I would say yes. I would alsosay that our city has advocated

(03:35):
strongly for this community toget a circle, including in the
community safety plan where thatwas a specific action item. And
I'm hopeful that Circle teamwill come to this community and
be part of the community'sresponse to dealing with people
in mental health crisis.

Jessica Samuels (03:56):
Mike, thank you for that information. If you
have questions about this topicor any other topic, you can
always email us atawayforwardcmhacolona dot org.
And you can also go tocmhacolona dot org if you want
any information about any of ourpodcast topics. In the meantime,
please take good care. BeamCredit Union supports mental

(04:18):
health initiatives acrossBritish Columbia because caring
for each other builds stronger,more connected communities.
United has won. Beam's foundingcredit unions now serve 190,000
members across BC.