Mental Health Resources Within The GTA
Free, Accessible, & open 24/7
Crisis Lines
211 Central: A central access point to be connected to the appropriate mental health and other social services that meet your needs. Dial 2-1-1 to speak with an Information & Referral Specialist.
Gerstein Crisis Centre: Provides 24/7 crisis services for adults age 16+ in Toronto dealing with mental health issues and/or substance use issues. Call 416-929-5200.
Kids Help Phone: Offers confidential professional online, telephone, and text-based counselling to children and youth in both English and French. Call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868. This service is available 24/7 across Canada.
LGBT YouthLine: Offers confidential, non-judgmental, and information support service for LGBTQ2+ youth in Ontario. You can reach them by calling 1-800-268-9688 or text 647-694-4275. They also offer support across Ontario via chat, text, and email.
Crisis Services Canada: Provides support for people who are thinking about suicide. You can reach them at 1-833-456-4566 or text START to 45645. They also provide support via chat at crisisservicescanada.ca.
Emergency Services (911): In an emergency, if you or someone else is in immediate danger, or if you or someone else is facing a health crisis, call 911 for immediate, life-threatening situations.
Please remember that if you or someone else is in immediate danger or experiencing a health crisis, calling 911 is the most immediate form of support. These other resources are important for ongoing or non-immediate support and assistance with mental health issues. Each of these resources is equipped to direct you to additional support as needed.
Smudging with sage is a sacred practice in many Indigenous cultures used for purification and spiritual cleansing. During a smudge, sage is burned in a bowl or shell, and the smoke is wafted around a person or place to dispel negative energy and restore balance. This is a practice that should be honored with great respect and consideration.
Call 211 to be connected the resources mentioned below.
Community Support
Serving The Indigenous Communities
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto provides holistic healing services for Indigenous children, youth, and families. They offer various programs and services, including child and family well-being, early years services, youth services, and healing and wellness services.
Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre provides social, recreational, cultural and spiritual services for Indigenous people and those interested in Indigenous cultures. They offer programs and services that include housing and support services, learning and employment services, health and wellness services, and cultural and spiritual services.
Serving The LGBT Community
The 519 offers space for change to LGBTQ2S communities and allies. They provide programs and services that respond to the evolving needs of the LGBTQ2S communities in Toronto and beyond, including newcomer settlement services, employment support, counselling, youth and seniors' programming, and community support groups.
Sherbourne Health provides a wide range of health services for LGBTQ+ communities, including primary care, mental health services, chronic disease management, health promotion, and community capacity building. Their teams offer specialized programming for gay and bisexual men, LGBTQ+ newcomers and refugees, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, Two-Spirit, and other members of LGBTQ+ communities.
LGBT Youthline is a peer support service run by and for LGBTQ2+ youth. It offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through phone, text, and chat services.
Call 211 to get in contact with the services below.
Services For Those Living With Disabilities
The Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) is a resource organization run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities. They offer a range of services to empower individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.
The City of Toronto offers various services for people with disabilities, including recreational activities (accessible recreation, adult day programs, accessible recreation facilities & equipment), personal support (homemakers & nurses services, supportive housing program, vulnerable adults & seniors health team, dental clinics), home-related support (long-term care homes, snow clearing, toxic taxi, front or side door garbage collection program), financial support (Ontario Disability Support Program through Ontario Works, financial support for renters, financial support for homeowners, property tax & utility relief), and transportation and transit (Wheeltrans, TTC, accessible parking permits).
In addition to the vast community resources available in the Greater Toronto Area, our team is here to serve you in your mental health journey. Along with thousands of dedicated practitioners in the GTA, we offer personalized and individual care. The value of such one-on-one therapeutic relationships is immense, tailored to your unique experiences and needs. We can explore deeper into your feelings, thoughts, and behaviours, working together towards personal growth and healing. While community services are invaluable, they are complemented by the personalized care psychotherapy can provide. I warmly encourage you to reach out to me or any of these resources as a courageous step towards better mental health. Your well-being matters, and I am here to support you.