Free, Open Source, or Affordable Mental Health Resources for COVID-19
Contents:
- Crisis Lines: pg. 1-3
- Addictions: pg. 3
- Advice: pg. 3-4
- Afro-Caribbean Community Mental Health Resources: pg. 4-5
- Anxiety: pg. 5
- Art Therapy: pg. 5-6
- Clinic, Phone Lines, and Other Counselling Resources: pg. 6 – 8
- Grief Resources: pg. 8 – 9
- Indigenous Community Mental Health Resources: pg. 9
- Local Therapists (low-cost, sliding scale): pg. 9 – 11
- Online Therapy Option: pg. 11 – 12
- Mindfulness and Meditation: pg. 12-13
- Thanks: 13CRISIS LINES:**If the situation is one of immediate danger, please call 911 or go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital.**
- Suicide Prevention Hotline (Crisis Services Canada)
- Phone: 1-833-456-4566 (24/7)
- Text: 45645 (4pm-12am)
- Good2Talk (counselling, referrals, and information for post-secondary students in Ontario; 24/7)
- Phone: 1-866-925-5454
- Text: “Good2talkon” to 686868
- https://good2talk.ca/ontario/
- Trans Lifeline (peer support by and for trans people)
Phone: 1-877-330-6366 (10am-4am EST)
LGBT YouthLine (peer support for LGBTTQQ2SI+ youth)
- Text: 647-694-4275 (4-9:30pm Sun-Fri)
- Online chat: https://www.youthline.ca/ (4-9:30pm Sun-Fri)
- Peer Support HelpLine
- Sunday-Friday 4-9:30PM EST
- Text: 647-694-4275
- Chat online: www.youthline.ca
- Email: askus@youthline.ca
- https://www.youthline.ca/
- Crisis Text Line is free and available 24/7
- Canadians text “686868”
- Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a (COVID-19) Crisis Counselor
- Toronto Distress Centre
GTA: 416-408-4357 (HELP)
- Emotional support service for those with chronic mental health problems; Support & crisis intervention services for those currently experiencing distress or in crisis; Family violence response; Suicide prevention services; Emergency intervention and response
- 4pm- 12am Text Support: Text 45645
- Open to all individuals regardless of age
- https://dcogt.com/
- Kids Help Phone – text, phone, chat and other forms of support for young people, 24/7 and in English and French
- Text: text CONNECT to 686868
- Online chat: https://kidshelpphone.ca/live-chat/
- 1-800-668-6868
- Assaulted Women’s Helpline, free at 1-866-863-0511 or TTY 1-866-863-7868
- 24/7 support for individuals experiencing abuse in the City of Toronto and GTA
- Telephone Crisis Line: 416-863-0511 or Toll-Free: 1-866-863-0511
- Text Support: #SAFE (#7233) on your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus Mobile
- Open to all individuals regardless of age
- http://www.awhl.org/home
- Senior Safety Line – 1-866-299-1011 (toll-free)
- The Gerstein Centre
- 24/7 crisis support for adults 16+ in the City of Toronto
- Telephone Crisis Line:■ http://gersteincentre.org/
- Scarborough Health Network
416-929-5200
Also provide online workshops every week, mobile crisis team, community-based
crisis bed, etc.
- Telephone crisis support: 416-495-2891
- For individuals in the East York/Scarborough area, who are 16 years or older andwho are experiencing mental health symptoms, including feelings of sadness,hopelessness, or anxiety.
- https://www.shn.ca/mental-health/crisis-support/
- Spectra Helpline
- 24/7 Helpline for anyone experiencing distress (Crisis or Counselling)
- Brampton and Mississauga Residents Call: 905-459-7777
- Multilingual Telephone lines are open Mon-Fri 10am-10pm in 8 languages:English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
- https://www.spectrahelpline.org/index.php/our-services/helpline
- Mental Health Crisis Line (Canada Wide): 1-888-893-8333 Addictions Support:
- AA: Alcoholics Anonymous: Zoom or Phone In Meetings at many different times. http://aa-intergroup.org/directory.php
- NA: Narcotics Anonymous: directory of meetings one can search for a local to call into www.na.org/meetingsearch/
- CA: Cocaine Anonymous: website with online directory www.ca-online.org
- SMART recovery: Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) offers onlinescience-based support to overcome addictions and habits. This website links to onlinegroups to connect to. www.smartrecovery.org/community/
- In the Rooms – www.intherooms.com Offers 130 weekly meetings and an onlinecommunity of support using a variety of 12-step and non-12-step traditions for therecovery process.
- Connex Ontario: https://www.connexontario.ca Ontario’s centralized access point foraddiction, mental health and problem gambling resources.Advice:
Anxiety and Kids:
“What to Say to Help Kids Feel Calm when the World Feels Fragile” by Karen
Young (useful advice for the littles in your life, but also applicable to yourself).
Social Pressure to ‘Be Productive’ during this time:
“A Trauma Psychologist Weighs In on the risks of ‘motivational’ pressure during
quarantine” by Annie Reneau (in short, if you don’t feel like taking on new skill building at this time, don’t sweat it).
- “Surviving the Looming Mental Health Crisis” by Mark Manson. TL;DR = 1. Routine can help, 2. Now is a Good Time to Build/Maintain Relationships, 3. Health and Wellness Basics.
- “Mental Health and Wellness Tips during COVID19” by Dr. Eileen M. Feliciano (who you can find on Facebook).
Couples or Roommate Issues:
- “Isolating with a partner? Relationship Therapists Share Stress ReductionStrategies”, NPR, David Greene. Short article, or short recording (7 minutes) withsome helpful advice.
- Love in the Time of Coronavirus; Dr. Kara Fletcher offers 5 tips to help withconflict that comes from being at home with someone during COVID.
- 5 Tips for Couples During COVID 19; Dr. Kelly Campbell offers her 5 tips for24/7 cohabitation.
- “Preventing Household Conflict When You’re Stuck at Home Together” ReinaGattuso offers her advice about dealing with shared space issues.Afro-Caribbean Community Mental Health Resources:
- City of Toronto – Anti-Black Racism and Mental Health: City of Toronto curated resource that highlights March 2 2020 as Toronto’s first Black Mental Health Day, providing further information and resources including the following link, which is an excellent resource document found here: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/96a4-t4a-abr-bmh-resources.pd f
- Caribbean African Canadian Social Services: https://cafcan.org/
416 – 740 – 1056 or by email Info@cafcan.org Hours of Operation are 9-4:30 M-F, and until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays - Across Boundaries – equitable mental health and addictions services for racialized communities. Services provided in many languages including: Caribbean Dialects; African Languages (Shona, Amharic, Harare, Xhosa, Tsonga, Afrikaans, Swahili, Somali, Twi), Central Asian Languages (Dari, Pashto, Farsi (Persian)), South Asian Languages (Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali), Mandarin.http://www.acrossboundaries.ca/
(416) 787-3007 | Email: INFO@ACROSSBOUNDARIES.CA - Black Health Alliance
http://blackhealthalliance.ca/resources/community/ – this link has information about Mental Health, Medical Services, Sexual Health, Men’s Health, Food Accessibility, and more. It provides links to specific service providers, as well as general information.
(647) 367-6656
info@blackhealthalliance.ca
Anxiety:
- Anxiety Canada: https://www.anxietycanada.com Tools and resources to help manage anxiety, including resources for children and youth.
- Bounce Back Ontario: https://bouncebackontario.ca Online support through CMHA for adults and youth 15+ to help build skills to manage anxiety and depression.
- Big White Wall: https://www.bigwhitewall.com/?lang=en-ca&from=ca/ Online peer support for people living with anxiety and mild-moderate depression.
- Care for your Coronavirus Anxiety: https://www.virusanxiety.com/ A great resource especially designed for youth (but appropriate for adults) for coping with mental health aspects of COVID-19, includes meditations, ideas for breaks, self-care, and links to expert information.
- “Tolerance for Uncertainty: A Covid-19 Workbook” a free online workbook by Dr. Sachiko Nagasawa. Downloadable PDF using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to help with Anxiety and Emotional Distress.
- “Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook” is a free online workbook published by the Wellness Society and is available in English, Spanish, and Dutch. It is a Downloadable PDF offering tools for addressing stress, anxiety, and for building resilience in this era.Art Therapy:
- Healing with the Arts – 6 week free, online art ‘therapy’ course provided by teachers associated with the University of Florida. Can be used independently or in conjunction with a professional therapist. “The 6-week online program will use teachings, guided imagery exercises and art projects to help you heal whatever needs to be healed in your life. With art, you can heal your darkness or the darkness of our world.”https://www.healingwiththearts.com/6-week-program/
- Udemy – online learning platform Udemy hosts multiple low-cost Art Therapy courses.https://www.udemy.com/topic/art-therapy/
- Please also see Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
Clinics, Phone Lines, and Other Counselling Organizations:
- The Etobicoke Children’s Centre Walk-in Counselling Clinic- http://www.etobicokechildren.com/walk-in-clinicTelephone support is available . To schedule a booked phone counselling session, please call 647-272-8482 between the hours of 8:30am-4:30pm.
- Hong Fook Mental Health Association – https://hongfook.ca/association/contact-us/ – provides a range of mental health services for Cambodian, Korean, Mandarin and Cantonese, and Vietnamese speaking communities. Located Scarborough, North
York, and Dundas/Bay. Phone number 416-493-4242. - Progress Place Warm Line (Not a Crisis Line)
- Chat online, call or text if you are feeling lonely, isolated, depressed, or just inneed of a listening ear
- Between 12pm-8pm Call: 416-323-3721
- Between 8pm-Midnight Call: 416-960-9276
- Text: 647-557-5882
- For Adults 18+
- http://www.warmline.ca/
- SKYLARK’S WALK-IN- Youth- https://www.skylarkyouth.org/Starting Thursday March 19t h we will be providing clients with phone sessions in replacement of our walk in. The phone ‘walk in’ will be offered during the following hours:
- Mondays 10-6pm, Tuesdays 10-6pm, Wednesdays 12-8pm, Thursdays 2-6pm and Fridays 10-3pm.
- For walk in on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30-6pm please call 416-482-0081 and press 5
- For walk in on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 9-1:30pm and Wednesday 11-7pm please call 416-482-0081 and press 6
- Friends of Ruby (previously Egale Youth Services)- LGBTQI2S youth- http://friendsofruby.ca/info@friendsofruby.ca
416-359-0237- offering remote services Stella’s Place- Youth- https://stellasplace.ca/
- In order to support our community safely, we have started delivering all our services remotely. We are not offering in person services on-site, but we are here to support you virtually.
- Please call us at 416-461-2345 ext. 0 or jump on BeanBagChat as our hours have been extended. Here’s how the Stella’s Place team is working together to meet your needs http://www.beanbagchat.ca/
- Youthlink- https://youthlink.ca/
- Our E-Counselling What’s Up Walk-In service will be open Monday – Fridaycall 416-967-1773 extension 222 and you will be connected to our Intakedepartment.
- E-Counselling and support is also available for many of our other programs.Intake staff can provide you with more information if you are interested.
- Yorktown Family Services- https://www.yorktownfamilyservices.com/covid-19/
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To schedule a phone consultation, please call Reception at 416-669-3521. Appointments are available on the following days and times:
- · Monday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
- · Tuesday 1:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- · Wednesday 1:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- · Thursday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- · Friday 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
- Griffin Centre Mental Health Services http://www.griffin-centre.org/contact.php
We are offering phone sessions. Please call 416.222.4380 and leave a message and ourwalk in Intake Worker will call you back. - Jack.org https://jack.org/covid?fbclid=IwAR02hFqmbjfQ4gOfwF64RZu0eYVoadhUfaXDO R996eAwSrDl0ZcKfBTRWB0 the ‘swiss army knife of youth mental health resources’ including guides for how to support others, access to app’s or distress lines, information about Addictions and Mental Health, support specifically for Indigenous youth, and more.
- Wellness Together Canada – Mental Health and Substance Use Support. Free online resources, tools, apps and connections for volunteers and qualified mental health professionals https://ca.portal.gs/
- East Metro Youth Services- http://emys.on.ca/important-notice-covid-19-service-disruption/
Counselling services or resources, call 416-438-3697 ext 12248
Grief Resources:
- Mygrief.ca – Free for Canadian residents, this website offers grief-related topics to help individuals work through the experience. It is not meant to replace therapy/counselling, but it may be able to assist in the grieving process (for yourself, or others). http://www.mygrief.ca/
- Grief Support Map – SickKids Hospital offers a map showing grief support resources in the GTA.http://www.sickkids.ca/patient-family-resources/paediatric-advance-care-team/Grief%20 and%20bereavement%20resources/Grief-Support-Centres-%20Counselling-Resources/G rief-Support-Centres-PACT.html
- Grief Anonymous – https://griefanonymous.com/ is available to everyone free of charge. The online support options are dedicated to assisting those grieving the loss of a loved one.
- Online Grief Support – http://www.onlinegriefsupport.com/ is a free social community available so you don’t grieve alone. You set up a profile and utilize their many resources available on their website.
- Masters in Counselling – 115 Online Resources for Grieving
- https://www.mastersincounseling.org/guide/loss-grief-bereavement/
- Children and Youth Coping with Death – free article which describes how children are affected by grief and bereavement, and what family and friends can do to support a grieving child. https://www.ementalhealth.ca/Toronto/Children-and-Youth-Coping-With-Grief-Ber eavement-and-Loss-Information-for-Families/index.php?m=article&ID=13275Indigenous Community Services:
- Anishnawbe Health Toronto: Phone ‘walk-in’ counselling available M-F 10-5 bycalling 416-920-2605. Addiction and Mental Health Support Services.
- Aboriginal Healing Program (at Michael Garron Hospital): 416-923-0800 TheAboriginal Healing Program is a highly structured Accredited Leading Practice Indigenous Healing Program which provides a continuous intake process and does not believe in a waiting list for those that are either considering or are ready to begin their healing journeys.
- Native Child and Family Services – https://nativechild.org/ – 416.969.8510 Native Child and Family Services of Toronto strives to provide a life of quality, well-being, caring and healing for children and families in the Toronto Native Community. We do this by creating a service model that is culture-based and respects the values of Native people, the extended family, and the right to self-determination.
Native Canadian Centre of Toronto – https://ncct.on.ca/community-health/ – 416-964-9087 – reception@ncct.on.ca – Health and Addiction Supports, Talking Circles, Art Therapy, and more. Monday (9:00am – 5:00pm) & Wednesday (9:00am – 5:00 pm) – Any other time will need to be by APPOINTMENT
- Mandy Mack is the Community Health Navigator
- 416-964-9087 X273, mandy.mack@ncct.on.caLocal Therapy (Toronto): (offering sliding scale/affordable therapy)
Note: “Sliding scale” treatment means that the agency will work with you during your intake to determine what you are able to pay for the services.
- Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy – Low-cost therapy
- Hard Feelings – affordable shorter term therapyDuring COVID-19, some of the counsellors in their community of practice are offering low-cost single-sessions online, 60 minutes/$60 – Details here
- Danielle Hulan Therapy – Online therapy for individuals experiencing anxiety or depression, sliding scale available for those financially affected by COVID-19
- being here, human – Rachelle Bensoussan is a bereavement clinician/grief therapist for 12 years and offering 1:1 support via Zoom and hosting online grief writing workshops (one beginning March 30) and online group grief literacy trainings
- Tynan Rhea, is a psychotherapist offering an online COVID-19 respite clinic
- Respite Clinic that is pay-what-you-can (no one will be turned away for lack of funds)
- Balanced Mind & Wellness phone and secure video counselling in GTA; offeringreduced rates of 25% less until April 30, 2020
- Kristy White is a counsellor trained in psychotherapy, and currently providing pay-what-you-can counselling via phone/video
- Anishnawbe Health Toronto (AHT) Our mission is to improve the health and well being of Aboriginal People in spirit, mind, emotion and body through both Traditional and Western healing approaches. Programs and services offered are based on our culture and traditions through a multi-disciplinary team of dedicated healthcare professionals and service providers.
- Toronto’s Queer and Trans Therapist Listing
- Umbrella Mental Health Network - a network of queer and trans-identified mental healthprofessionals who work primarily in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex,asexual, two-spirited (LGBTQIA2S) community within Toronto.
- Nasima Salehe providing low cost online therapy to help people during this crisis
- Britt Caron Therapy During COVID-19, is offering sessions exclusively via phone andvideo, and offering pay-what-you-can sessions during this time
- Yzobela Hyett offering individual online/phone therapy, and is able to offer sliding scaleto individuals who are financially impacted by Covid-19
- Matt Eldridge able to offer sliding scale options for those impacted by COVID
- Christopher McKinnon is offering numerous COVID-19 specific offerings including
focused counselling for anxiety and depression – $25 per 30-minute session; and sliding
scale individual psychotherapy ($75 to $165). Also a support group for those at risk
during COVID19 (see Supporting each other section above)
- WellNest has a very diverse and skilled team of 15 clinicians currently working extendedhours to provide support to our community during this uncertain time
- Bereaved Families of Ontario – Toronto (BFO-Toronto) A local charitable organizationthat seeks to inspire hope and transformation in people who are grieving the death of a loved one. We are offering 1-1 phone or video calls, peer-led group supports, and very soon we will also be announcing new meetings and activities. Please feel free to phone us or email us at programsupport@bfotoronto.ca or 416 440 0290 x102. All services free.
- Silm Centre for Mental Health We are a diverse set of mental health professionals who are keen on supporting individuals and communities through COVID-19 and other difficulties. We always offer a generous sliding scale, and are currently also offering pro bono services. All therapy is currently offered online.
- CONNECT Counselling Services (Canadian Hearing Services) provides professional counselling services to Deaf and hard of hearing individuals aged 16 and over, and their families, who are living with mental health issues, addiction, relationship problems, domestic violence or other serious challenges. Services are free, confidential and provided in an accessible environment using American Sign Language (ASL), la langue des signes québécoise (LSQ), note-taking, real-time captioning and amplification devices as required.
- Beaches Therapy – offers affordable psychotherapy with qualified therapy interns who are supervised by senior practitioners
(647) 484-8622
- Stella’s Place (up to age 29) https://stellasplace.ca/
- Cost: free
- Several options available at varying times.
- What’s Up Walk-In - https://www.whatsupwalkin.ca/
- Cost: free
- Call the phone number provided on the location’s website for a phone session.
- May have age restrictions for youth depending on the site (i.e., some end at 24,some up to 29). Call to confirm.Online Therapy Options:
BetterHelp https://www.betterhelp.com/faq/
Cost: $40-$70/session (billed monthly) ReGain https://www.regain.us/faq/
Cost: $40-$70/session (billed monthly)
Online-Therapy.com https://www.online-therapy.com/faq.php
Cost: starts at $39.96/week (including 20% discount first month) Talkspace https://www.talkspace.com/
Cost: Starts at $65/week, $65 off with code APPLY65
- COVID19 Therapists – Facilitating free mental health services for Ontario COVID-19 healthcare providers
- Big White Wall – is a free, online mental health and wellbeing service that helps people who are dealing with everyday stressors or major life events. Available 24/7/365
- Good2Talk – Good2Talk provides confidential support services for post-secondary students in Ontario and Nova Scotia. This hotline is also free.
- Greenspace Mental Health - finds you a therapist matched to your needs, available for GTA. Sessions in person or online video (therapy fees apply)
- 7 Cups connects you to caring listeners for free emotional support 24/7; or be a listener for others
- Inkblot virtual therapy sessions ($37.50/30 min sessions, first session is free)
- Shift Collab, in-person and online options. Sliding scale options. Free initial consult call.
- Real Campus Student Assistance Program (run by Shift Collab). If you are a Universityor College student at eligible campuses you have access to free therapy sessions. Visitthe website for eligibility here.
- Affordable Therapy Network – offering reduced rates, low-cost, sliding scale onlinetherapy options
- Pathway-Therapy, in-person and online options. Currently offering sliding-scales tosupport a wider range of people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Open Path Collective – offering sliding scale individual ($30-$60) and couples andfamilies ($30-$80) therapy options
- New Creations Counseling – offers online therapy for individuals and couples withsliding scale
- Warm Line peer support – Chat online, text or call a peer support worker. 8PM -midnight, every night; or text 647-557-5882 or call 416-960-WARM (9276)
- Text4Hope – a free service providing three months of daily Cognitive BehaviouralTherapy (CBT)–based text messages written by mental health therapists – TextCOVID19HOPE to 393939 (Canada only)
- Zencare.co – Vetted network of therapists in the U.S. offering sliding scale fees to supportindividuals and couples during the COVID-19 pandemic. Available in New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, Washington DC, Illinois, and Washington state
- Mind Relief if offering 40% discount until end of May 2020
- Homewood Health – https://homewoodhealth.com/corporate/covid-19-resourcesMany resources including downloadable articles and longer e-courses (Mood, Stress, Resilience), as well as free counselling is also available through this program. You may access it through the Wellness Together Canada portal, or by dialing 1-866-585-0445 24 hours a day.
Stronger Minds by BEACON is a free digital program for all Canadians – to support your mental well-being through the COVID-19 crisis, and will be available for all Canadians starting Monday April 6th
Mindfulness & Meditation Resources:
- Headspace is offering free meditations for COVID19 for everyone
US Healthcare professionals get a free subscription for rest of 2020
Headspace for NY free meditations and resources for New Yorkers (but relevantfor folks anywhere really) - Balance – (iOS) Until April 15th, they’re offering a completely free one-year subscriptionto Balance to anyone who wants it. Email access@balanceapp.com for instructions
- Prana Breath (Android) – free app for guided breathing
- Calm.com is offering free meditations
- Insight timer – app for meditations with lots of great free meditations
- Healthy Minds app – Training your mind is the key to your emotional well-being, free
- Sue Hutton Mindfulness – Free online mindfulness events amidst COVID19 – everyFriday 7-8PM (EST) via Zoom (link goes to Facebook event page for more details)
- 5 Shaolin Qi Gong Breath Exercises to Strengthen the Lungs
- Facing Pandemic Fears with an Awake Heart with Tara Brach guided, video/audio
- Centre for Mindfulness Studies supporting our community during the Covid-19 byproviding free and pay-what-you-can offerings
- Inkblot Meditation live fully-guided video sessions.No experience is required. Thesesessions are completely free (for a limited time)
- Savyn guided square breathing exercises in Arabic and English to produce a calmingresponse to anxiety. No experience is required. These sessions are free.Resources compiled from great curators of information including but not restricted to the community at CAREMongering TO; Vivian Ngai (vivian@byVivian.com) /@byViviandesign) , who made a comprehensive, evolving, and awesome list found here https://takecare19.com/ ;
Stacey Gawrylash, Helena Wolanyk, and Graham Engel with the YES Lighthouse Project; Jesse Gutman for links; and others.