You’ll find crisis and non-crisis helplines, as well as resources on how to respond to stressful events. Learn more about mental illness, its risk factors, symptoms, treatment, as well as how to take care of your mental health, with self-care tips, tools and more. We have also put together mental health resources and tools for specific age groups.
Remember!
If you are in crisis or have suicidal thoughts, you can:
- Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room.
- Call the suicide prevention line at 1-866-APPELLE (277-3553).
- Canada Suicide Prevention Service 24-Hour Crisis Line: Available 24/7 at 1-833-456-456, or text 45645 (4PM – 12AM EST)
- Call Info-Social at 811, press option 2 to speak with a social worker 24/7.
- Call the Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region 24/7 at 613-238-3311.
- Call Tel-Aide Outaouais at 819-775 – 3223 or toll-free: at 1-800-567-9699.
Non-Crisis Helplines – If you need emotional support, or are feeling low or sad:
- Talk to someone you trust, like a family member, friend or a guidance counsellor, or see your doctor to discuss your options for support.
- Caregivers:
- Call L’Appui pour les proches aidants for caregiver support at 1-855-852-7784, Monday to Sunday, between 8 am and 8 pm
- Parents:
- Call the LigneParents helpline at 1-800-361-5085
- You can request help from Priorité Parents.
- Youth:
- Call the Tel-jeunes Helpline at 1-800-263-2266 or text 514-600-1002.
- Call, text or live chat with Kid’s Help Phone (ages 5-20) at 1-800-668-6868, or download the Always There app.
- Young people text TALK to 686868 and adults text WELLNESS to 741741 to receive support 24/7 from the Kids Help Phone.
- Veterans:
- Veterans experiencing distress should call the VAC Assistance Service at 1-800-268-7708 to speak to a mental health professional. It’s free and available 24/7.
- Veterans and their family can also access useful resources through the Veterans Affairs Canada PTSD Coach Canada app. Additional mental health resources on the Veterans Affairs Canada Website.
- Agricultural Listening Line (MRC Pontiac, Collines-de-l’Outaouais & Gatineau)
- Call: 873 – 455 – 5707
- All Ages:
- Connect for free 24/7 support through the Wellness Together Canada portal
- Ami-Quebec: Free bilingual services including one-on-one counselling for caregivers, tele-workshops and interactive session by teleconference.
Connexions’ Mental Health First-Aid Kit Cards & Tools:
- Connexions’ Youth Magnet: Who to call for Crisis Situations or for Emotional Supports
- Connexions’ Youth Postcard: Tips to communicate with someone in distress and tips to better mental health
- Mental Health Activity Cards with bubble, pinwheel and star breathing strategies
- Paper Fidget Toys that help children Cope with stressful situations: Instructions to make fidget tools with your child, Spinning Fidget Template, Fidget Copter Template, as well as our I Can Cool Off Flower, Fortune-Teller Finger Game and I am Grateful for… Activity Page to write down what you are grateful for. All great activities to share with your child or to ease your stress and anxiety.
- List of Different Coping Strategies to give you inspiration and to help fill-out some of the Templates above.
- Mental Health Activity Cards for Children (child can also colour these- great for quiet time!).
- A list of What to Include in a Calm Down Kit for Kids.
- A Mood Tracker.
- Words of empowerment mental health cards for parents, List A and List B.
- A list of signs of caregiver burnout, as well as contact information on where to find legal, health and mental health supports in the Outaouais.
- A List of what to Include in your Individual Mental Health First-Aid Kit.
Connexions’ Community Online Chat/Support Groups:
- Itsy Bitsy Tots Playgroup (Families with children 0-4)
- Baby Chat (Families with babies up to one years old and parents-to-be)
- Parent Chat (Parents with children, youth and adults with special needs)
- 50+ Chat (also great for caregivers!)
Community & Online Resources:
Support Help Lines & Resources For Indigenous Peoples & Their Allies
NWAC Elder Support Line | Canada-Wide
Available Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 11:00 am and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm EST: 1-888-664-7808
First Nations, Métis & InuitHope for Wellness Help Line | Canada-Wide
If you’re experiencing emotional distress and want to talk, call the First Nations, Métis & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line, available 24/7: 1-855-242-3310 or the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca
National Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line | Canada-Wide
Available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of his or her Residential school experience: 1-866-925-4419
Kids Help Phone | Canada-Wide
Indigenous Peoples can connect with an Indigenous volunteer crisis responder, when available, by texting FIRST NATIONS, INUIT or METIS to:686868 for youth and 741741 for adults
For additional resources, please visit our resource page.
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