What Gerstein Crisis Centre does

Gerstein Crisis Centre is a Toronto-based, non-profit community mental health and substance use crisis service provider founded in 1989 by Dr. Reva Gerstein following her work on the Mayor's Action Task Force on Discharged Mental Patients. The organization delivers 24/7 crisis intervention to adults aged 16 and older across the City of Toronto through three core service channels: a telephone crisis line (416-929-5200) with over-the-phone interpretation in 180+ languages via RIO Network, a mobile crisis team that deploys to community locations, and short-term residential crisis beds across two facilities (Gerstein on Charles with 10 beds for 3–5 day stays, and Gerstein on Bloor with 14 beds for stays up to 30 days). Its underlying technology is a community-based crisis response system built on trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and anti-racist practice, staffed by community crisis workers — many with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use — and recognized by Human Rights Watch (2021) as a non-coercive best practice model.

The organization's product portfolio is structured as a coordinated suite of nine core crisis services (Telephone Crisis Support, Mobile Crisis Team, Crisis Beds, Substance Use Crisis Team, Mental Health and Justice Short-Term Crisis Beds, Here to Help neighborhood response, Toronto Community Crisis Service / TCCS, 9-8-8 National Suicide Crisis Helpline, and the Toronto Public Library Project), complemented by wellness and recovery programming (WRAP peer-facilitated groups and F.R.E.S.H. exercise and social programming) and education/training offerings (SafeTALK, ASIST, Mental Health First Aid, and customized workplace workshops). Distribution spans 13 Toronto Public Library branches, TTC Line 1, 24 crisis beds, multiple mobile teams, and integration with 211/988/911 pathways.

Gerstein is funded almost entirely by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care through the Toronto Central Local Integration Health Network (LHIN) under a Multi-Service Accountability Agreement, with a disclosed annual budget of $5.2M CAD. The go-to-market is community- and referral-led rather than commercial: clients access services through healthcare provider referrals, self-referral via the crisis line, government-funded crisis pathways, and an ecosystem of 100+ community partnerships including the Salvation Army, University Health Network, CMHA, TAIBU, Two Spirited People of the First Nations, Sherbourne Health, St. Michael's Hospital, and Toronto Public Library. There is no commercial revenue; all services are free and confidential to end users.

Name

Gerstein Crisis Centre

Legal name

Gerstein Crisis Centre

Website

https://gersteincentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Gerstein Crisis Centre is a Toronto non-profit, founded 1989, delivering 24/7 community-based mental health and substance use crisis services — telephone support, mobile teams, and 24 short-term crisis beds — to Toronto adults in crisis, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health with a $5.2M annual budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health Crisis Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health Crisis Services Management (988/Hotlines/Mobile Crisis Coordination) (HLAEAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crisis Stabilization Units & Psychiatric Emergency Services (HLAFACAH), Crisis Support, Suicide Prevention & Acute Behavioral Triage Platforms (HLALAEAI), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Mental health crisis services
• Community crisis response
• Suicide prevention training
• Substance use support
• Mobile crisis intervention

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Health Funding: Funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care through the Toronto Central Local Integration Health Network (LHIN). Annual budget of $5.2 million, with 84% supporting Gerstein on Charles, Gerstein on Bloor and Substance Use Crisis Program. Remaining 16% supports programs operated with community partners Salvation Army and Griffin Centre.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Gerstein Crisis Centre provides free, confidential, community-based mental health and substance use crisis services 24/7 to adults 16+ in Toronto. Core offerings include a 24-hour telephone crisis line (with interpretation in 180+ languages via the RIO Network), a mobile crisis team that deploys to community locations, 24 short-term crisis beds across two facilities, a Substance Use Crisis Team, Mental Health and Justice crisis beds, and the Here to Help and Toronto Community Crisis Service neighbourhood response programs. It also delivers peer-led wellness and recovery programs (WRAP, F.R.E.S.H.) and education/training workshops such as SafeTALK and ASIST.

Product overview

Gerstein Crisis Centre operates as a coordinated suite of community-based crisis and recovery services rather than a single product. The core offerings include 24/7 Telephone Crisis Support (with interpretation in 180+ languages), Mobile Crisis Team (in-person community response), and Crisis Beds (short-term residential stays at two locations). Specialized programs include the Substance Use Crisis Team, Mental Health and Justice (MHJ) Short-Term Crisis Beds, Here to Help (H2H) neighborhood-based response, Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS), and the 9-8-8 national suicide prevention line. The Toronto Public Library Project extends services to 13 library branches. Wellness and recovery programming includes WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) peer-facilitated groups and F.R.E.S.H. (Finding Recovery Through Exercise Skills and Hope) physical activity program. Education and training offerings include SafeTALK suicide alertness workshops and organizational crisis/mental health training programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan): A practical tool to help plan for staying well and getting through harder times, focusing on hope, personal responsibility, education, self-advocacy, and support.
• F.R.E.S.H. (Finding Recovery Through Exercise Skills and Hope)
• Here to Help (H2H)

Products and services

• 24/7 Telephone Crisis Support 24-hour, 7-day-a-week telephone crisis line staffed by trained Crisis Workers providing immediate emotional support, de-escalation, and connection to appropriate services for adults in crisis in Toronto. Over-the-phone interpretation available 24/7 in 180+ languages via the RIO Network.
• Mobile Crisis Team Community-based mobile crisis response that dispatches trained staff to meet individuals in distress at their location or a safe agreed-upon location within the downtown Toronto catchment, providing on-site crisis intervention and de-escalation organized following a call to the crisis line.
• Crisis Beds (Short-term Residential) Short-term residential crisis support with private rooms in homelike settings. Includes 10 beds at Gerstein on Charles (3-5 day stays) and 14 beds at Gerstein on Bloor (up to 30-day stays), serving populations including mental health, substance use, justice-involved, and unhoused individuals.
• Substance Use Crisis Team Specialized crisis team responding to calls involving concurrent or serious substance use issues with a harm reduction approach, including 6 concurrent crisis beds in partnership with Unity Health Network and follow-up support for up to 30 days.
• Mental Health and Justice (MHJ) Short-Term Crisis Beds Nine voluntary short-term crisis beds for individuals dealing with mental health and addiction crises who are currently involved in the criminal justice system. Part of a 34-bed network across Toronto accessed through the Central Bed Registry.
• Here to Help (H2H) Mobile Team Multi-service community-based mobile team that responds to immediate concerns for conflict reduction, crisis intervention, and de-escalation in the Church-Wellesley and Moss Park neighbourhoods. Operates Tuesday-Saturday, 2pm-10pm, providing de-escalation, harm reduction, access to medical supports, culturally appropriate services, and follow-up.
• Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) City of Toronto community-based crisis response utilizing an equity-based, anti-racist, person-centred, trauma-informed approach. Provides non-police mental health and substance use crisis support across multiple city divisions, with recent expansion to TTC Line 1 downtown Toronto via 24/7 teams.
• 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline Support National helpline for anyone in Canada thinking about suicide or worried about someone they know. Available via call or text, providing support in English and French 24/7.
• Toronto Public Library Project Partnership with Toronto Public Library offering low-barrier crisis support at 13 library branches, including in-person crisis teams at 6 branches and F.R.E.S.H. and WRAP programs alongside SafeTALK workshops.
• WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Peer-facilitated 8-10 week group program teaching practical tools for staying well and creating personalized crisis plans. Covers peer support, relaxation techniques, stress reduction, and early warning sign recognition; groups tailored for youth, Spanish-speaking, Syrian refugee communities, and substance use/addiction.
• F.R.E.S.H. (Finding Recovery Through Exercise Skills and Hope) Peer-led wellness initiative using physical activity and social connection to support recovery. Offers over 50 weekly recreational activities including yoga, gym groups, bike groups, and walking groups at community partner locations.
• SafeTALK Workshop Three-hour workshop preparing participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and connect them to life-saving intervention resources. Free workshops offered at Toronto Public Library locations and other community settings.
• Crisis Intervention and Mental Health Training Workshops Organization-specific training including ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), Crisis Intervention Workshops, Mental Health First Aid, and Mental Health Workshops delivered to organizations and workplaces, including via the IDEA Training Collaborative.

Quantifiable outcome

• Spoke with over 35,000 people in crisis
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Toronto project led by community anchor partners including Gerstein Crisis Centre (Divisions 11,13,14, 22, 51, 52, 53 and 55), TAIBU, CMHA, and Two Spirited People of the First Nations. Provides community-based response to mental health and/or substance use crises.
• Here to Help (H2H)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-service mobile team collaboration between Gerstein Crisis Centre, Inner City Family Health Team, Homes First, Seeds of Hope, Dixon Hall, and The Neighbourhood Group. Serves Church-Wellesley and Moss Park neighbourhoods.
• Toronto Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer low-barrier crisis support and programs at 13 library branches. Provides crisis management, follow-up support, referrals, and peer-led recovery groups including F.R.E.S.H. and WRAP.
• University Health Network (UHN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UHN Toronto Community Addiction Team and Ossington Withdrawal Management Site for 6 Concurrent Crisis Beds for men.
• Eva's SatellitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing 1 crisis bed for youth aged 16-24 through Eva's Satellite.
• Mental Health and Justice NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork including Gerstein on Bloor, Reconnect Community Health Services, Cota Health, and CMHA providing 34 MHJ Short-term Crisis Beds across Toronto.
• Central Bed RegistrycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCentral intake system for accessing Mental Health and Justice Short-term Crisis Beds at (416) 248-4174.
• LumenusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for transitional housing through Homebase Program for adults experiencing homelessness with developmental disabilities and mental health issues.
• Unity Health TorontocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for substance use crisis management providing 6 short-term crisis beds for stays up to 30 days.
• TAIBUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCCS anchor partner serving Divisions 41, 42 and 43.
• Two Spirited People of the First NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCCS partner providing City-Wide Crisis Support for people who identify as Indigenous.
• ROM (Royal Ontario Museum)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner for F.R.E.S.H. project providing recreational activities.
• AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner for F.R.E.S.H. project providing recreational activities.
• Central and West End YMCAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner for F.R.E.S.H. project offering over 50 recreational and social activities per week.
• Dufferin Grove ParkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner for F.R.E.S.H. project recreational activities.
• Salvation Army Maxwell Meighen CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Primary Support Unit providing short-term crisis support to people experiencing homelessness and mental health crises.
• Inner City Family Health TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerH2H collaboration partner for mobile team services in Church-Wellesley and Moss Park.
• Homes FirstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerH2H collaboration partner for mobile team services.
• Seeds of HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerH2H collaboration partner for mobile team services.
• Dixon HallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerH2H collaboration partner for mobile team services.
• The Neighbourhood GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerH2H collaboration partner for mobile team services.
• Human Rights WatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization that collaborated with Gerstein to develop replicable framework 'Mental Health Crisis Support Rooted in Community and Human Rights' for holistic mental health crisis response.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCCS anchor partner and MHJ network partner for mental health and justice services.
• Reconnect Community Health ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHJ network partner operating Short-term Crisis Beds.
• COTA HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHJ network partner operating Short-term Crisis Beds.
• St. Michael's HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Mobile Crisis Intervention and Follow-up Team creation.
• Sherbourne HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in StreetHealth/Sherbourne Health Bus for mobile crisis services.
• IDEA Training CollaborativeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFormerly Toronto Hostels Training Centre. Partner for LivingWorks ASIST workshop delivery.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves19 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/gersteincrisiscentre
• Xx.com/gersteincrisis

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gerstein Crisis Centre