Toronto strengthens community care

The city is changing the way it cares for its communities. Under the leadership of Mayor Olivia Chow, initiatives that combine empathy, safety, and well-being demonstrate that it is possible to address the challenges of a large metropolis with humanity and closeness.

One of these initiatives is the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS), created to respond to mental health and emotional crises without the immediate presence of police. Mobile teams include mental health professionals, community workers, and people with lived experience in crisis situations. The service goes beyond supporting moments of acute distress: it also helps in family or community conflicts that do not involve armed violence, offering care and proper referrals.

Expanded city-wide in 2024, the TCCS has already responded to more than 25,000 calls since its launch in 2022. In one year alone, 2,955 calls from 911 were redirected to the service, with 78% resolved without police involvement. In 2025, it also began receiving low-acuity calls previously handled by paramedics, which is expected to add more than 3,000 new cases annually.

Free, confidential, and available to residents aged 16 and over, the TCCS can be reached through 911, when the dispatcher directs the case, or through 211, which connects directly to the service. In addition to English and French, support is provided in more than 200 languages, including Portuguese, reflecting Toronto’s diversity.