SSFMH RESOURCE CENTER
- Chloe Shimlay
- Jan 11
- 3 min read
Crisis & Immediate Support (24/7)
Service | Who It Helps / Details | Contact / Link |
Kids Help Phone | Youth across Canada. Free, confidential. Talk by phone, live chat, text. | Call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868 (Kids Help Phone) |
9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline | All ages, people in suicidal or crisis situations | Call or text 988 (WES For Youth Online) |
Talk Suicide Canada | National suicide prevention support | Toll-free 24/7 line, see “List of supports” page (Ontario Human Rights Commission) |
Distress Centres Ontario | Province-wide listening and crisis support | Via Distress Centres network (see “List of supports”) (Ontario Human Rights Commission) |
Call 911 / go to Emergency | In immediate danger or medical emergency | 911 |
Ontario-Focused Supports & Programs for Youth / Girls
Program / Organization | Age Range / Focus | Services & Highlights | Link / More Info |
Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) | 12 – 25 | Integrated mental health, substance use, primary care, peer support, etc. (Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario) | |
Children’s Mental Health Ontario (“One Stop Talk”) | 0 – 17 | Single-session counselling, referrals, walk-in clinics (Children's Mental Health Ontario) | onestoptalk.ca / via CMHO stats page (Children's Mental Health Ontario) |
mindyourmind | ~14 – 29 | Tools, blogs, self-help, crisis support, wellness content (mindyourmind) | |
Webbing with Wisdom | Girls, young women | Support around online sexual violence, digital safety, healing (WES For Youth Online) | |
Mood Disorders Association of Ontario | All ages, but helpful to youth too | Peer support groups, recovery programs for depression, anxiety, bipolar etc. (Children's Mental Health Ontario) | mdao.ca (check local branch) |
womenmind (via CAMH) | Focus on girls / women / gender-diverse | Advocacy, research, raising awareness about gendered mental health issues (CAMH) | CAMH’s womenmind pages (CAMH) |
Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI) | Child & youth with complex mental health / developmental issues | Specialized assessment, consultation, treatment (Wikipedia) |
Identity-Affirming & Specialized Supports
Focus / Identity | Resource(s) | Notes / What They Provide |
LGBTQ2S+ Youth | LGBT Youth Line; Rainbow Health Ontario; Trans Lifeline | Peer support, referrals, identity-affirming help (WES For Youth Online) |
Racialized / Black Youth | Across Boundaries; Black Youth Helpline | Anti-racism mental health support, culturally affirming services (WES For Youth Online) |
Indigenous Youth & Communities | Aboriginal Health Access Centres; OFIFC; ONWA | Culturally grounded health & social supports (WES For Youth Online) |
Women / Gender-diverse (18+) | GreenShield Cares’ Women’s Mental Health Program | Virtual therapy and digital CBT options tailored for women / gender-diverse folks (GreenShield) |
Self-Help, Education & Tools
Wellness & Coping Tools (via mindyourmind) — stress, self-care, safety planning (mindyourmind)
Blogs, lived experience stories & articles — helps reduce stigma, normalize struggles
Workshops / Training / Webinars — many organizations host sessions on anxiety, resilience, mindfulness, etc.
School / Educator Toolkits — mental health literacy, awareness resources
How to Use / Navigate the Resource Centre (for Readers)
In immediate crisis: Use the crisis & 24/7 lines first (988, Kids Help Phone, 911)
Match by age / geographic area / identity: Use the Ontario-focused supports
Seek ongoing help: Use youth hubs, local mental health or counselling centres
Supplement with self-help tools & reading: Use online tools, blogs, wellness content
Check local providers: Many of these provincial or national organizations also have local branches or partners in specific cities / towns
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