Nodin is pleased to announce that the Crisis Response Program has been renamed to the Social Emergency Response Service.
This change better represents the program’s role in responding to community social emergencies—events that cause significant stress, disruption, or trauma within a community. Such emergencies may include tragic incidents such as unnatural deaths or other sudden events that affect the emotional, mental, spiritual, and social wellbeing of community members. These situations require an immediate, compassionate, and culturally grounded response that strengthens community resilience and supports recovery.
Nodin’s Social Emergency Response Service provides short-term, on-the-ground support directly in First Nations communities following critical incidents. Support is tailored to the unique needs of each community and guided by a community-centered approach.
The program works closely with partners—including but not limited to NAN Hope, Tribal Councils, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), Community Crisis Coordinators, Community Leadership, Health Directors, and other SLFNHA departments—to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive response. Ongoing collaboration is essential, as partner involvement often shifts over time.
Why the Name Change
The program name was updated to better clarify its purpose and reduce confusion.
The service provides support when communities request assistance following a social emergency. It is not a helpline for individuals seeking immediate mental health or addiction counselling, such as NAN Hope or similar services. The new name more accurately reflects the program’s community-based and collaborative approach.
- “A Social Emergency is an incident that significantly impacts a community as a whole, including traumatic events, acts of violence, natural disasters, or experiences of collective loss, triggering the need for coordinated social and wellness supports.”
- The term is broad enough to encompass mental health, trauma response, and emotional care without sounding clinical or crisis-line related.
- It emphasizes the program’s focus on community impact and reinforces its role in providing support at the community’s request.
Visit the Social Emergency Response Service webpage for more information about the service.
