2-Spirited of the 1st Nation (2S1N) is celebrating their one year anniversary for their Indigenous-led crisis team and their recently developed crisis line.

2-Spirited of the 1st Nation is an Indigenous led organization that provides holistic programming for the Indigenous community in Toronto. They celebrated one year in service on Sept. 22, despite them officially beginning operation on July 11, 2022.

They set-up their crisis team and line through the Toronto Community Crisis Service Pilot (TCCS) with 2S1N’s program Kamaamwizme wii Naagidiwendiiying, with the line starting in June 2023. 2S1N is one of four pilots in the city that are participating.

TCCS goal is to create “a new, alternate approach to responding to someone in crisis that focuses on health, prevention and well-being.” 2S1N does this through long-term and culture based programming. Including crisis intervention, harm reduction, traditional supports and system navigation to name a few.

They currently only operate in Division 14, which is made up of 11 neighborhoods on the westside of Toronto. A few of the neighborhoods include the Annex, Trinity Bellwoods and South Parkdale. Saige McMahon, director of the program, says that the future of the program has them expanding to accommodate more of Toronto.

“In just over a year, we have [had] over 2000 ,calls,” says McMahon. “We're really hopeful that we'll be able to expand across the city and that our crisis line will be able to expand in terms of its hours. Our crisis line right now operates 12 hours a day. We're really hopeful that we'll be able to get it up to 24 hours a day.”

Currently, the line operates from two in the afternoon to two at night. McMahon says this time frame was chosen as their research found that for other crisis lines that 12 hour block is their peak, while the line is open for 12 hours their services operate 24/7.

The 2S1N team and lines use a consent based and non-enforcement approach so to utilize the service the client must consent and cannot be forced into their service, when someone does consent there is support for long-term care.

“It supports people beyond just a one time interaction, and really allows folks to get access to the support they need while maintaining their autonomy and empowering them to make decisions that they need,” says McMahon. “ [We provide] support that they're requiring, that they're asking for, and reliefs to walk alongside someone in a moment of crisis.”

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or are looking for support in Toronto, call 211.

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