Community Crisis and Suicide Response

Description

Canada’s first post-secondary program in community safety and wellbeing that specializes in community crisis and suicide response.

Drawing on innovative and emerging community-led crisis models and public health strategies, students explore community-led approaches that elevate the standard of care in community crisis and suicide response.  

Using a trauma-informed, decolonial, and anti-oppressive framework, students gain knowledge and skills required to assess, intervene, and support individuals, families, and communities in crisis. Students are informed on culturally responsive approaches from authentic voices, particularly those from Black, racialized, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.   

Students apply evidence-based strategies, and utilize experiential learning, including use of simulation to develop a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of community crisis and suicide response and how to navigate the mental health, addiction, and justice systems.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from this program may find career opportunities in a variety of settings and job roles including crisis worker, outreach worker, harm reduction worker, victim/witness service worker, crisis intervention worker, crisis outreach worker, community mental health worker, community health worker, street outreach worker, housing worker, settlement worker, intake worker, overdose prevention support worker, harm reduction outreach coordinator, case manager mental health, substance use worker/case manager, and harm reduction health promotion worker.

Completion of this program also provides graduates currently working in the human service, justice, community safety, education, and other health services with crucial and required skills in the areas of community crisis and suicide response. 

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. analyze the impact of social determinants of health and health inequities, and evaluate public health strategies that prevent and address these disparities to promote equitable responses for individuals, families, and communities in crisis;
2. analyze historical and emerging community crisis and suicide response models to address systemic power imbalances and disrupt colonial, racist, and discriminatory practices;
3. coordinate case management plans, navigate services, advocate for equitable access and care for individuals and their natural supports within health, social, education and justice services; 
4. assess and apply harm reduction, recovery techniques, and psychopharmacological interventions in community crisis and suicide scenarios to address mental health, addiction, and other crisis situations effectively and safely;
5. use diverse, equitable and inclusive crisis intervention techniques to promote a just, safe, and supportive environment for all individuals and communities;
6. work collaboratively and ethically with community partners and interprofessional teams to support individuals and their natural support systems;
7. interpret and integrate relevant legislation and policies to enhance community crisis and suicide response programs within diverse communities;
8. cultivate a critical, self-reflexive professional practice to develop sustainable self-care and professional development strategies in trauma exposed environments;
9. research diverse worldviews to develop culturally responsive strategies for community crisis and suicide intervention.

Program Progression 

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Fall Intake

• Sem 1: Fall 2026
• Sem 2: Winter 2027

Admission Requirements

• Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Degree or equivalent in health, education, human services or community safety related fields. 

Minimum GPA of 70% in the above credentials is recommended.

Applicants who are lacking the above requirements may be considered upon submission of a resume, letter of intent and portfolio showing evidence of experience in a related field with a minimum of 5 years or 9000 hours of crisis and suicide response experience. 

Additional Information

Applicants will be required to provide a clear CSC/VSC prior to proceeding to field placement. Applicants may be asked to provide community agencies with proof of completion of Standard First Aid and CPR Level C certification in some circumstances to proceed with field placement. Students are required to review agency requirements provided by the field placement office. Proof of completion of the Ontario Ministry of Labour Health and Safety Awareness training must also be provided before proceeding on field placement.

Criminal Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

Placement agencies require an up-to-date clear criminal reference check and vulnerable sector check prior to going out on placement. Students should obtain their criminal reference three months prior to placement; checks conducted earlier may not be considered current. As some jurisdictions require longer lead-time for processing, please check with the program coordinator to ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. It is the student's responsibility to provide the completed document prior to placement start.

NOTE: A record of criminal offences, for which a pardon has not been granted, may prevent students from completing their placements, thereby affecting their ability to graduate.

Graduation Requirements

17 Program Courses
1 Experiential Learning Opportunity

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, a student must attain a minimum of 60% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester. The passing weighted average for promotion through each semester and to graduate is 60%.

Program Tracking 

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
Program Courses
CCSR 1000	Mental Health and Psychopharmacology	42
CCSR 1001	Trauma-Informed Interventions for Helping Professionals and Caregivers	21
CCSR 1002	Death, Dying, and Bereavement Experiences	21
CCSR 1003	Indigenous and Decolonizing Approaches	21
CCSR 1004	Introduction to Community Safety and Public Health Approaches	42
CCSR 1005	Africentric and Afri-Indigenous Approaches	21
CCSR 1006	Introduction to Counselling and Assessment Skills	42
CCSR 1007	Trauma-Informed Interventions Across the Lifespan	42
CCSR 1008	2SLGBTQIA+ and Queer Affirming Approaches	21
CCSR 1009	Aging and Disability Experiences for Community Crisis and Suicide Response	21
	Hours	294
Semester 2
Program Courses
CCSR 1010	Substance Use, Harm Reduction, and Psychopharmacology	42
CCSR 1011	Telephone-Virtual Counselling Skills	42
CCSR 1012	Holistic Worldviews in Research Methodology	42
CCSR 1013	Mobile and Facility Teams	42
CCSR 1014	Situation Tables for Community Crisis and Suicide Response	21
CCSR 1015	Case Management, System Navigation and Advocacy	42
CCSR 1016	Simulation for Community Crisis and Suicide Response Skill Integration	42
Experiential Learning Opportunity
Select 1 course from the list below		120
	Hours	393
	Total Hours	687

Course List

Code	Title
Experiential Learning Opportunities
CCSR 1017	Clinical Placement for Community Crisis and Suicide Response
CCSR 1018	Capstone Project for Community Crisis and Suicide Response

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of one year (as stated above) may take a maximum of two years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.