We believe access to mental health is a right, not a privilege.

There are so many people that struggle with mental health in Ontario. Here’s a comphrensive list of mental health resources.

At Hats On For Awareness, we are breaking down the barriers to ensure mental health and wellness programs can be offered to more individuals. Everyone deserves access to mental health resources.

“In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness, and by the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 have – or have had – a mental illness.” Source: CAMH, Mental Illness and Addiction: Facts and Statistics

We want everyone to have access to these services because they are a right, not a privilege.

Please note that Hats On For Awareness is not a service provider. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department for assistance.

 

Resources for Individuals Suffering with Mental Health

Here are some resources in the Greater Toronto Area that Hats On For Awareness recommends to help people who are struggling with their mental health.

 

What’s Up Walk-in Clinic

The What’s Up Walk-In network is Toronto’s only free, six-day-a-week mental health counseling walk-in service for infants, children, youth, young adults, and families. Therapists offer walk-in, single, solution focused sessions. The service is a collaborative initiative of 6 publicly funded Children and Youth Mental Health agencies that operate 7 sites in the City of Toronto.

The clinics help with issues such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal ideation, sexual identity matters, bullying, behavioural concerns, addictions, and anything else that might be on one’s mind.

Visit The Website

 

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital and one of the world’s leading research centres in its field. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

With a dedicated staff of more than 5,000 physicians, clinicians, researchers, educators and support staff, CAMH offers outstanding clinical care to more than 38,000 patients each year. The organization conducts groundbreaking research, provides expert training to health care professionals and scientists, develops innovative health promotion and prevention strategies, and advocates on public policy issues at all levels of government. And through our Foundation, we’re working to raise tens of millions of additional dollars to fund new programs and research and augment services.

Call: 416 535-8501

Visit The Website

 

Youth Addiction & Concurrent Disorder Service (YACDS)

The Youth Addiction and Concurrent Disorders Service (YACDS) offers treatment to young people (14 to 24 years) who have substance use challenges/concerns, with or without concurrent mental health concerns, and to their families.

Call: 416 535-8501, press 2

Visit Youth Addiction & Concurrent Disorder Service | Visit All Services

 

Ontario Mental Health Helpline (ConnexOntario)

ConnexOntario exists to bridge the gap between the services that are available and the people who need them. Their vision is a province where all people in Ontario are connected to mental health and addictions support where, when and how they need it. It is their mission is to provide 24/7 access to information for mental health & addictions services, expert youth engagement, collaboration and resource development, and comprehensive systems data to support informed decision making.

Call: 1-866-531-2600

Visit The Website

 

Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP)

The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) was launched in 1985. The group saw the need to provide information and resources to communities to reduce the suicide rate and minimize the harmful consequences of suicide-related thoughts and behaviours.  Like many others, CASP envisions a world in which people enjoy an optimal quality of life, are long-living, socially responsible, and optimistic about the future.

Having been in existence for 35 years, CASP envisions a Canada without Suicide. CASP is a pan-Canadian organization that provides advocacy, communication and education on suicide prevention and life promotion through providing resources, guidance and information. Call: 911

Visit The Website

 

Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support to young people in English and French. The company has a pioneering history of creating innovative supports for critical issues young people face. They began in 1989 as a unique telephone counselling service, launched to provide free, accessible support to any young person reaching out from coast to coast to coast. Their focus was supporting young people experiencing abuse, but almost immediately, young people let them know they needed more from the service than one focus and one way to reach them.

Call: 1-800-668-6868

Visit The Website

 

Ontario Program Gambling Helpline

This global service offered by Gordon Moody helps provide free practical advice and emotional support to anyone affected by gambling. It can really help to speak to someone if you are worried about your own gambling, or if someone else’s gambling is having an impact on your life. The team is composed of trained advisors waiting to speak to you using a text-based multilingual Live Support service. The team will answer your questions, provide information and can offer practical and emotional support during difficult times. If this is your first visit to the Gambling Therapy website then the helpline is a great place to start.

Attending an online support group allows you to share your experiences and read about how others are working through their issues around gambling. Gambling Therapy runs a number of groups on a range of subjects. Whether you are struggling with your own gambling, or you are affected by someone else’s gambling you will find a group to suit you. Recovery and support groups are facilitated by trained and experienced support workers – you will be welcomed and accepted without judgement.

Call: 1-888-230-3505

Visit The Website

 

Children’s Mental Health Ontario

The team at Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) works hard to make a positive impact on families, caregivers, and members. The staff here have experience working inside and outside the provincial government on both the bureaucratic and political sides. Children’s Mental Health Ontario is governed by a Board of Directors composed of volunteers.

Call: 1-(416) 921-2109

Visit The Website

 

Connect With Us

Thank you for reading this blog on mental health resources. Hats On For Awareness is a Toronto-based charity that raises funds to further the reach of mental health programs that enhance the lives of those living with and affected by mental illness and addictions.  We believe that mental health is a vital component of overall wellness, and we need to prioritize it in our personal, business, and community lives. We need to raise awareness regarding these illnesses, consistently battle against the stigma they hold, and fund the research and programs to achieve Mental Wellness For All.

 

 

Get Involved

Would you like to help make an impact and break down mental health barriers? No matter your economic or situational status, there are ways you can get involved to help us make a difference in mental health care. From engaging with us on social media to volunteering, there is something for everyone. Together, let’s raise awareness, break down barriers, and build a brighter future for mental health!

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Important notice: Hats On For Awareness is not a service provider. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department for assistance.