01/30/2026
At this week’s Quinte Health Board of Directors meeting, Quinte Health’s 9-8-8 team was recognized!
Here’s part of the award script, presented by Board Member Pam Jolliffe, that accompanied this special recognition:
“…we are honoured to recognize four members of our mental health and crisis response community: Shannon Webster, Lori Wood, Alyssa Houlden and Heather Neal — our Quinte Health 9-8-8 Crisis Responders. Their work is a powerful example of our values in action: Imagine It’s You. Value Everyone. We All Make a Difference. Stronger Together. These values come to life in a powerful way through the work of the people who answer the call — quite literally — when someone is in crisis.
Across Quinte Health, our mental health service providers support people through some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. The 9-8-8 Su***de Crisis Helpline team is an essential part of that continuum of care. They respond to individuals who are overwhelmed, frightened, isolated, grieving, and sometimes unsure whether they want to continue living.
They listen without judgment. They stay present when it’s hard. They help people find steadiness when everything feels unsteady.
Here at Quinte Health, we are uniquely positioned to provide this support. Our 9-8-8 responders are part of our broader mental health program and work closely with the remarkable team at our Crisis Intervention Centre. That means when someone calls from our region, we can often connect them quickly and thoughtfully to additional local supports…This team embodies what Values in Action truly means. They imagine it’s them — every time they pick up the phone. They value everyone — every story, every fear, every voice on the line. They prove that we all make a difference — one conversation at a time. And they remind us that we are stronger together — not just as a team, but as a community of care…”
Read the full recognition: https://quintehealth.ca/news-story/board-of-directors-recognizes-quinte-healths-9-8-8-team/