Wellness Community Resources

Help Seeking Resource.pdf
Self Care 101.pdf

Community Resources

Culturally Responsive & Relevant Resource Lists



  • Black Youth Helpline - Serves as the point of contact for calls to professional services from youth, families, school districts and a variety of youth serving stakeholders. Service in French and other languages available upon request.(https://blackyouth.ca/)


  • Central Toronto Youth Services - CTYS offers a variety of counselling and group support opportunities, including Transceptance (www.ctys.org)


  • CTYS Pride & Prejudice Program - Offers: individual counselling; family counselling and parent support/education; trauma sensitive yoga; transceptance peer support group for parents and caregivers; support for families in gender transition; Boyoboy for guys who identify as two-spirit, intersex, trans, non-binary, gay, bi, or queer (https://ctys.org/program/pride-prejudice/)


  • CTYS Rites - Through a group learning model we aim to instill a sense of kinship and create awareness of assets within the Black and African-Canadian community. We understand that daily exposure to racism, discrimination; homophobia, violence and poverty can lower young people’s self-esteem, impact their mental health and compromise their potential for overall success. RITES implements an asset-focused, strengths-based approach informed by evidence and research on the effects of racism, stress management and racial identity and is informed by various Afrocentric cultural, social value systems and practices. The focus of RITES is to support young people in building practical skills of leadership, conflict transformation, resilience and problem solving in a positive and healthy environment (https://ctys.org/program/groups/rites-for-african-canadian-youth/)


  • Greenwood Rites of Passage - Given the specific challenges faced by young people of African descent in Toronto, WoodGreen’s Rites of Passage (ROP) process offers an 18-week program that aims to enhance youth’s (ages 12-26) confidence, self-awareness and resilience as they move from adolescence to adulthood. The ROP approach provides an African-centered framework that is practiced in many indigenous cultures, which is designed to assist young people as they transition into responsible adulthood, supporting their maturation and personal development (https://www.woodgreen.org/services/programs/rites-of-passage/)


  • Griffen Centre's ReachOUT program - A creative, inclusive & accessible program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, non-binary, queer and questioning (LGBT*) people in Toronto; individual and family counselling for youth 12-18; referral and Case Management for youth 12-21; accessible workshops for youth; drop-in groups; advocacy; arts programming; sports and recreational activities (http://www.griffincentre.org/reachout.php OR reachOUT@griffincentre.org)


  • Help Ahead - Help Ahead is for anyone under 18 looking for mental health and well-being services in Toronto, or for anyone looking to support a child or youth aged 0-18 and their family in accessing local services or programs (https://helpahead.ca/)


  • Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT) - Empowering the Indigenous community in Toronto by providing programs that support their spiritual, emotional, physical and mental well-being.(https://ncct.on.ca/)


  • Pflag Canada - Pflag Canada offers peer-to-peer support to help all Canadians with issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. We support, educate and provide resources to anyone with questions or concerns. (https://pflagcanada.ca/)




  • Supporting Our Youth (SOY) - runs groups, programs and events that support the health and wellbeing of all queer, trans and questioning youth (https://soytoronto.com/programs/)





  • Trevor Project - Though this is an American resources, this site provides useful 2SLGBTQ+ support resources such as a "Coming Out Handbook" and a "Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Non-Binary Youth" (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/)


  • TDSB Triangle Program - Did you know the TDSB has an alternative school open to LGBTQ2+ youth who are in need of a smaller and safer space where they can find and build community? The Triangle Program offers a justice-focused curriculum, in a small and supportive setting. To find out more, or access their online resource bank, visit their website. We're also happy to tell you more about it in guidance (or by email/phone for now!) (https://triangleprogram.ca/about-us/)


  • What's Up Walk-in - Need to talk? Free Virtual Mental Health Counselling. To be connected to a counsellor for a telephone or video session please call MHTO at 1-866-585-6486 Monday to Friday 9AM – 7PM. What's Up Walk-in offers immediate mental health counselling for children, youth, young adults and their families, and families with infants. No issue is too small or too big. We can help (https://www.whatsupwalkin.ca/)


  • WoodGreen Newcomer Services offers many supports to help newcomer youth (age 13 – 24) settle in and experience a greater sense of belonging in their new Canadian home. Programs include: group programs and workshops; leadership development; homework club; art clubs; sports activities (including Newcomer Soccer League); events and trips; one-on-one supportive counselling; Sisters in Action (for young Muslim girls and women) (https://www.woodgreen.org/services/youth/)


  • Woodgreen Youth Wellness Centre - a one-stop, multiservice, youth-friendly space where young people can have fun and access services when they need them. The Centre is a fun, welcoming and non-judgemental space to hangout, with games and lots of comfy seating! Additional services include: employment supports; financial literacy; academic supports; peer supports; and clinical mental health supports with counsellors and much more! (https://www.woodgreen.org/services/programs/youth-wellness-centre/)



  • Youthline - A peer-to-peer resource for 2SLBTQ+ Youth. This is not a crises line, but a resource to talk about shared experiences and receive peer support (https://www.youthline.ca/)




If this is an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest Emergency Room