Mental Health Support In Ontario
During the COVID-19 outbreak, there are Mental Health and addictions services that you can access online or by phone. These services, as recommended by the Province of Ontario are intended to support children, youth and adults who:
- experience anxiety, stress and other mental health challenges; and
- can’t access their regular in-person counselling supports.
Ontario Supporting Mental Health
Ontario’s provincial government recently added $12 million in new funds to allow Mental Health agencies to expand their services virtually. Some of the services which are still running, available and scaling their operations to you at this time include:
- BounceBack: A guided self-help program for adults and youth aged 15 and over, using workbooks, online videos, and phone coaching; https://bouncebackbc.ca/
- Kids Help Phone: A bilingual 24/7 virtual support service offering counselling, information, referrals, and text-based support to young people; 1-800-668-6868
- Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT). iCBT for front-line health care workers experiencing anxiety, burnout, or PTSD.
- ConnexOntario: Adults and frontline workers who are dealing with the realities of COVID-19 can call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600 for mental health, addictions and problem gambling support.
- 211 Ontario: For information and referrals for community, government, social and health services, including mental health resources across Ontario call 211 or 1-877-330-3213. Live web chat is also available.
- BounceBack: A free, evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) program that provides guided mental health self-help supports for adults and youth 15+ using workbooks, online videos and phone coaching. Call 1-866-345-0224.
- Kids Help Phone: Children and youth 18 and under who need to talk to someone about their mental health can call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868, for 24/7 phone and text support.
- Good2Talk: A phone and texting service that provides confidential support to post-secondary students. Call 1-866-925-5454.
- Hope for Wellness Helpline: Indigenous peoples can call 1-855-242-3310 for immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention across Canada (available in some Indigenous languages). Live web chat is also available.
- Talk 4 Healing: Indigenous women can get help, support and resources seven days a week, 24 hours a day, with services in 14 languages by calling 1-855-554-4325 or texting 1-855-554-4325. Live web chat is also available.
To learn more about Ontario’s $12 million emergency funding for COVID-19 visit the Ontario Government’s website, or listen to Premiere Ford’s announcement concerning the additional funding now.
Mental Health Resources from CAM-H during COVID-19
The Centre for Addictions and Mental Health has created answers for people who are struggling to deal with the mental health implications regarding COVID-19. If you have been asking yourself any of the following questions, please visit their forum now and
- How do I talk to my children about COVID-19 and its impact?
- How can I support a loved one who is very anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic?
- I have a friend who can’t stop talking about COVID-19 and wants to process worst case scenarios. How do I deal with this?
- How can I deal with feeling lonely while in self-isolation?
- How do I manage my stress and anxiety while I await my test results?
- I feel anxious because I have tested positive for COVID-19. What can I do?
- I have tested positive for COVID-19 and my friends and family are avoiding me. What can I do?
You can access CAMH’s resources here. Please continue to stay safe, and practice social distancing.
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