back to Crisis Centers

The KUU-US Crisis Line Society was formed from a concern of various Nuu-Chah-Nulth people over the amount of suicides that were occuring with youth. Out of this concern a community meeting was held with first responders, counsellors and Nuu-Chah-Nulth members to address gaps in service for those in crisis. From this meeting this 24hr Crisis Center was formed. The KUU-US Crisis Line has been in operation now for over 11 years. The Crisis Center services Port Alberni, Bamfield and the West Coast of Vancouver Island as well as provincial access for aboriginal people.

A pilot project currently established at the Crisis Center is the A.H.R.I (Aboriginal Homelessness Response Initiative). This program assists those that are homeless or at risk of being homeless. Access for this service is through the adult line.
The Crisis Center is unique from other crisis lines in that it has an Adult Line and a Teen Line with toll-free access for those long distance areas. Besides taking incoming crisis calls, this center also provides follow-up monitoring calls to those at risk. There is also a mobile outreach service that has immediate availability for those living in Port Alberni. Both the phone line service and outreach service is 24hrs.

People utilize the Crisis Center for many reasons. Some individuals need access and information to resources and referral agencies, others call for assistance in problem solving, mediation or conflict resolution. There are also others that workers provide suicide assessments on. People call themselves or about others that are going through difficulties. Those that call concerned about others are deemed 3rd party callers (calls in this nature are usually around reporting about a childs welfare, trying to arrange a family intervention for someone who has an addiction or needing guidance and an assessment on someone who is believed to be suicidal….).
Calls that workers at the center deal with vary in issue and level of severity. Some crisis' deal with relationship/marriage/family problems and mental/physical concerns through to employment/financial hardships, abuse/assault issues and grief/loss topics, to name a few. The context varies for each individual for example;

1) Relationship/marriage/family problems may consist of break-ups, separations, divorce, parenting skills, sibling rivalry, communication difficulties….

2) Mental /physical concerns may consist of undiagnosed or diagnosed mental health conditions, those in a psychotic episode, suicide attempts/completions, those dealing with health issues, terminal illnesses….

3) Employment/financial hardships may consist of job loss, limited income, those needing housing/food/clothing and concerns about future projections

4) Abuse/assault issues may consist of recent/historical sexual/physical/mental abuse, date/spousal rape, criminal acts, victims, abusers, child welfare, addictions….

5) Grief/loss topics may consist of the expected or unexpected loss of a loved one, loneliness, those isolated….
Regardless of the crisis, calls are handled accordingly. For regular calls workers provide a listening non-judgemental ear, problem solve and give appropriate referrals to the callers issues. For those calls that are of a risk nature, workers provide emotional stabilization, mediation, conflict resolution, risk assessment and if needed intervene where necessary.

One such service that assists those "at risk" is the 24hr Crisis Response Mobile Outreach service. If deemed necessary by the phone line worker handling the particular call that outreach is appropriate, then specialized workers will called out. In order to provide one on one support, outreach can attend to any location whether that be a callers home, agency or hospital. Workers work in teams of 2-8 depending on the nature of the call. For individual or family assistance 2 workers will be sent for support, assessments, mediation or conflict resolution. In terms of a traumatic incident that affects the community, teams of 4-8 would be sent to deal with critical incident debriefing and defusing. Anyone can request the outreach service (individual, agency, band).

Remember what is a crisis is based on the callers perception. The workers are caring people who are there to help through difficulties no matter how minimal or severe that it seems. The 24hr Crisis Center is there 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Whatever point the crisis is, it is never too late to reach out for help. On average 400 people utilize this service each month. To access the crisis phone service or crisis response mobile outreach call ADULT Line 723-4050 or TEEN Line 723-2040. For those calling long distance the toll free line is 1-800-KUU-US-17 (1-800-588-8717). If you are calling from a payphone tell the operator you are in crisis and they will patch you through free of charge. From this system we also take collect calls.
Remember "HELP IS ONLY A PHONE CALL AWAY"…