TDSB list of "immediate support/help". Many of the resources listed on the TDSB page are also listed below.

The name is misleading - for people in high school as well. You can access via phone, text messaging, computer, live chat.  Click on the link to the left or call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868. Available 24 Hours - 7 Days per week.

9-8-8 is like 9-1-1 but specifically for a mental health crisis. You may call or text. Quick access to trained responders available 24 Hours - 7 Days per week.

Suicide prevention hotline. If you are in distress or in need of emotional support call 416-408-4357 or text 45645 to contact the Distress Centres of Greater Toronto. Available 24 Hours - 7 Days per week.

Immediate, free mental health counselling for children, youth, young adults and their families is available at the What’s Up Walk-In® Clinic. (During COVID you can connect with a counsellor for a telephone or video session) Call Mental Health Toronto at 1-866-585-6486 Monday to Friday 9AM – 7PM. 

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) is an initiative to help youth (and their families) improve with mental health and addiction issues by:

• Providing rapid access to easily identifiable mental health and substance use services with walk-in, low-barrier services and clear service pathways

• Providing evidence-based interventions matched to individuals’ level of need, and supported transitions to specialized care services when the severity of need is evident

• Integrating mental health, substance use, primary care, vocational, housing and other support services into a one-stop-shop model of care offered in a youth-friendly space

• Reducing transitions between services through co-location and shared services in a single place

• Establishing common evaluation across sites

• Co-creating services with youth & families

The Family Navigation Project @ Sunnybrook Hospital helps young people and their families navigate the mental health and addictions system to find the care they need. 

Phone and online peer support for LGBTQ youth (26 and under); You can connect via text, chat, and email support. 416-962-9688 (GTA); 1-800-268-9688 (Ontario). 

Trans Lifeline is run by and for trans people. Trans Lifeline is a non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community. Toll Free at 1-877-330-6366.

The Black Youth Helpline serves all youth and specifically responds to the need for a Black youth specific service, positioned and resourced to promote access to professional, culturally appropriate support for youth, families and schools. It can be reached at 416-285-9944 or Toll Free at 1-833-294-8650.  7 Days per week from 9am to 10pm.

The Inuit and First Nations Hope for Wellness Line provides immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. It can be reached Toll Free at 1-855-242-3310.  24 hours per day, 7 days a week. The link also provides an option to connect with a counsllor via online chat.

For survivors of sexual assault and violence. Culturally sensitive, confidential and trans-positive counselling, support and referral over the telephone available at 416-597-8808.  24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Further resources and support are available at this link - other resources

Provided by the Sacramento City Unified School District, the Virtual Calming Room is a place for those who are feeling stressed or anxious. It provides a place for students or families to find tools and strategies for managing emotions and feelings and helps build resilience. Soothing sound effects (rain for example), animal videos, puzzles, guided meditation are just a few examples. 

Canada's only charity training and empowering young leaders to revolutionize mental health in Canada. They have some excellent "Find Support" resources on their website. 

Consider your "Wheel of Well-Being". LIfe is a balance between emotions, relationships, physical health, school and work and so on. Do you feel like some of these things are out of balance? Using the wheel of well-being may help you. 

Access self-led telephone or online therapy for stress, anxiety and depression. BounceBack is a free skill-building program that adults and youth 15+ can access over the phone. With the guidance of a coach, you’ll work through a series of workbooks at your own schedule, to gain practical skills to better manage low mood, anxiety, worry or stress. You’ll learn things like how to improve your mood by changing the way you think or respond to things.

Videos with helpful tips, available in English, French, Arabic, Farsi, Cantonese, Mandarin and Punjabi. 

A resource provided by the Government of Ontario - Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) is a practical, short-term program delivered online. It helps people develop skills and strategies to address symptoms of mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression. It can also help people cope with situations related to COVID-19, such as isolation, pressure caring for family and community members, information overload and stress. 

A second CBT resource provided by the Government of Ontario, AbilitiCBT is an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program that you can access from any device, any time. It works by helping you understand and change the thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are causing you problems. AbilitiCBT’s user-friendly platform makes it convenient to get help when you need it, where you need it.

Rainbow Health Ontario creates opportunities for the healthcare system to better serve LGBT2SQ communities. 

Phone and group-based support for parents, family, and friends of LGBTQ youth. 416-406-6378 (support); 416- 406-1727 (general inquiries) Also a source for events, resources and activities related to the LGBTQ community.

The Hong Fook Mental Health Association provides a continuum of integrated primary care and mental health services covering the spectrum from “promoting wellness” to “managing illness” in Asian communities, including:

• Clinical Service – Intake, Case Management, Support
  Within Housing, Group Psychotherapy, and partnership with Asian Community
  Psychiatric Clinic and HF Connecting Health Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic

• Integrated Recovery Program

• Family Support Program

• Prevention and Promotion Program

• Youth and Family Program

• Training Program – Journey to Promote Mental Health
  training for staff serving immigrants and refugees, Mental Health First
  Aid Training, Cultural Competency Training and Workplace Wellness Training

Lumenus offers a broad range of high quality mental health, developmental and community services for infants, children, youth, individuals and families across Toronto.  They support people in a variety of areas including (but not limited to):

• Developmental Disabilities

• 2SLGBTQ+

• Substance Use

• Autism

• Mental Health

• Parenting

• Behavioural Challenges

Canadian Mental Health Association website that provides information about eating disorders. Has a number of links to support organizations including:

• National Eating Disorder Information Centre

• Ontario Community Outreach Program for Eating Disorders

Sheena’s Place offers hope and support to people aged 17+ affected by an eating disorder or disordered eating. Professionally-facilitated groups are completely free of charge and participants do not require an eating disorder diagnosis or referral to register. 

Government of Ontario website with information about how to find mental health support for children and youth under the age of 18. 

#TDSBwellness page. Has tips, resources and ideas for you to help you practice well-being.  

TDSB Student Well-being Support Resources. Has tips, resources and ideas for you to help you practice well-being.  This includes resources to support anti-sex trafficking, inappropriate use of social media, grief and loss, substance abuse, and identity affirmation to name only a few of the topics covered.

TDSB Summer Well-being Guide.  The guide has resources, community connections, and ideas for students and parents/guardians/caregivers to promote mental and physical wellness. The resources are culturally responsive and include many for students with disabilities/special education needs. The Guide has been translated into the top 23 TDSB languages spoken and is accessible.  

Find local support services in the GTA. Topics include (but are not limited to) Food, Homelessness, Mental Health/Addictions, Abuse/Assault, Employment, Legal, Health, Income Support Youth, Newcomers, Indigenous Peoples.  

• Remind Me – a section to keep cherished photos and videos of loved ones

• Inspire Me – a collection of positive quotes you can add to

• Distract Me – a bunch of puzzles, word searches and other games

• Relax Me – an assortment of guided meditations to use

• Coping Tools – an area where you can create coping cards and plan positive activities

The free mobile Virtual Hope Box app is available for Android and iOS devices at the App Store and Google Play.

This MindShift app was created to enable teens and youngs adults to better cope with their anxiety. It offers important information about anxiety and help with using coping strategies, relaxation techniques and more helpful ways of thinking. Mindshift also offers more specific help with: test anxiety, perfectionism, social anxiety, performance anxiety, worry, panic and conflict.

The Mindshift app is available for Android and iOS devices at the App Store and Google Play.

SAM (Self-help Anxiety Management) can help you to identify causes of your anxiety and your anxious thoughts, to track your anxiety and behaviour over time and to learn to manage your anxiety using coping and self-help strategies.

The SAM app is available for Android and iOS devices at the App Store and Google Play.