Positive mental health is the capacity to feel, think, and act in ways that enhance the ability to enjoy life and deal with challenges.
Many Canadians are affected by mental illness either directly or indirectly through family, friends or colleagues. It’s OK to not be OK.
Learn more about mental illness, its risk factors, symptoms, treatment and suicide prevention and how to get help by visiting the Health Canada Website.
Community & Online Resources:
- Info-social: complements Info-Santé by connecting you to a qualified social worker 24/7. By calling 8-1-1, you can consult a social worker who will evaluate the situation and direct you to the appropriate psychosocial service.
- Mood Disorders Society of Canada
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Schizophrenia Society of Canada
- Ami-Québec Quarterly Newsletter and Online Resources
- Maison le Ricochet (French only)
- Quebec Health and Social Services – Mental Health (French only)
- Brain & Behaviour Research Foundation (US)
- The Mental Health Commission of Canada’s (CMHA) Mental Health First-Aid Program
Tools for All Ages:
- Action for Happiness Guidebook
- Monthly Mental Health Action Calendar for 2019
- Action for Happiness YouTube Channel
- Mental Health Passport (From Statistics Canada: encourages habits that foster well-being and better mental health)
- What’s your Stress Index? Quiz (CMHA)
- Work-Life Balance Quiz (CMHA)
- Mental Health Meter Quiz (CMHA)
- Mental Health for Life (CMHA)
- Happiness Activities, etc.
- Ten Keys to Happier Living – guidebook
- Happiness Posters – for adults/older children
- Happiness Posters – for younger children
- Book: Ten Keys to Happier Living – for adults
- Book: 50 Ways to Feel Happy – for children
- Monthly Action Calendars
- Ten Keys to Happier Living – postcard
- YouTube channel with lots of videos/talks etc
Tools Specific for Women & Men:
For Children & Families:
- Connexions’ Community Online Chat/Support Groups:
- Itsy Bitsy Tots Playgroup (Families with children 0-4)
- 20 Questions about Mental Health with articles on Family & Mental Health, Young Children & Mental Health, and Pregnancy & Mental Health (Naître et grandir).
- Anxiety & Depression Information for Young Children and Families from the Encyclopedia of Early Childhood Development.
- Children, Youth and Depression (CMHA)
- Postpartum Depression (CMHA)
For Youth:
For Seniors & Caregivers:
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.
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.
Farmers:
- Agricultural Listening Line (MRC Pontiac, Collines-de-l’Outaouais & Gatineau). Call: 873 – 455 – 5707
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 & Inuit. Hope 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
- 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.
