crisis supports

I unfortunately do not have capacity to provide crisis support outside of sessions.

My phone and email are only checked during regular business hours. You can expect that my response times to messages will vary depending on my availability. In general, my intention is to try to reply to messages within 1-2 business days and I make every effort to reply within that time period. On occasion if I am in training or on vacation, my response time might be longer.

Below are some resources you might want to consider in times of crisis. Please note that I cannot endorse any of the services and the information can change without notice. Please contact the service directly for up-to-date information.

I encourage you to consider entering phone numbers for at least two crisis services into your phone right now so that support is easily accessible to you should a need arise.

If you contact crisis services, I encourage you to contact as many crisis services as necessary until you get the support you need.

In a time of crisis you can access support by calling 911 or going to your nearest hospital emergency room. I acknowledge that I decided to list Toronto Police Services as a potential crisis support while recognizing that institutionalized anti-black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, racism, homophobia and transphobia impact the ways police officers engage with people from marginalized communities.

Mobile Crisis Intervention Teams through Toronto Police Services

  • if you phone 911 for a mental health crisis, you can request that a mental health nurse and specially trained police offer respond to the call, if available
  • in Scarborough and East York region, it is the Scarborough Hospital Mobile Crisis Program, also reachable at 416-495-2891

Distress Centre

  • 24/7 phone support at 416-408-4357
  • chat/text from 2pm-2am at torontodistresscentre.com and 741741

Gerstein Centre

  • 24/7 phone support at 416-929-5200
  • you can also request that someone meet you in person in the community

Good2Talk (for post-secondary students)

  • 24/7 phone support at 1-866-925-5454

Kids Help Phone (up to 20 years old)

  • 24/7 phone support at 1-800-668-6868
  • text support 24/7 at 686868
  • live chat support hours vary (at one point hrs were Wed-Sun 6pm-2am and recently support was available 24/7). Check out the website at: www.kidshelpphone.ca

Assaulted Women’s Helpline

  • 24/7 phone support at 416-863-0511 or 1-866-863-0511

Toronto Rape Crisis Centre Multicultural Women Against Rape

  • 24/7 phone support at 416-597-8808 or you can email crisis@trccmwar.ca

Anishnawbe 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Management Service

  • support for Indigenous people in crisis at 1-855-242-3310

Trans Lifeline

  • peer support for any trans person in need, including people struggling with gender identity
  • phone support 10am-4am at 1-877-330-6366. Note: operators are also frequently available during off-hours, so they encourage people try and call whenever you would benefit from support

CAMH emergency department at 250 College St (entrance is on the west side of the building which faces Spadina)

  • provides 24/7 emergency assessment and treatment for adults (16+) with mental health and substance use issues
  • Crisis counselling is not done by phone but you can ask about their services by calling 416-979-6885

Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre at Women’s College Hospital

  • provides 24/7 services to women, men, trans and intersex people who are victims/survivors of sexual assault and domestic/intimate partner violence
  • located at 76 Grenville st, toronto in the Acute Ambulatory Care Unit (AACU) on the first floor in Room 1256