1 in 5 people will suffer from some sort of mental health disorder in their life. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis yourself, or you know someone who is, here is what
you should do:
- Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department or hospital.
- Contact a nurse at Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
- For all mental health services in Ontario, call 24/7, toll-free
1-866-531-2600, to access support for mental health, addiction and problem gambling services. This is a free and confidential service. - Contact your doctor.
- Find a local distress centre near you. Distress or crisis phone lines are open 24/7 and offer free, confidential, and anonymous telephone counseling and information.
Mental health is more than the absence of a mental health condition or illness: it is a positive sense of well-being, or the capacity to enjoy life and deal with the challenges we face. Mental and physical health are fundamentally linked.
Some people worry about asking for help because there can be stigma around mental health problems. Asking for help means that you want to make changes. We should celebrate the courage it takes to speak up. Getting help is part of recovery.
Building a support team is critical–no one should ever have to follow their journey on their own.
- Talk with supportive friends and family. Share your feelings with them and let them be part of your team.
- Talk to your family doctor. They are a great resource and can link you to other professionals, if needed.
- Connect with community mental health clinics or organizations like the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) for information, support, and services.
- Call a help line. Some organizations also offer support online or through text messaging.
- Learn more about mental health. You can find useful books, websites, and other resources through your provincial or territorial government and community agencies.
- Connect with others who have personal experience with a mental illness and learn more about their recovery journey.
- Talk with a member or leader you trust from your faith or
cultural group.
