Resources for support
Explore these local and virtual services designed to offer additional support. Please know that if you are in distress and require immediate help, you are not alone. Dial 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room. Your safety is our highest priority, and immediate care is always available
Neurodiversity:
Possibilities Clinic – A multidisciplinary clinic specializing in comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessments, coaching, and treatments for ADHD, Autism, and learning disabilities across the lifespan.
Children and Youth:
Strides Toronto – A community-focused agency offering mental health assessments and therapeutic care for infants, children, and youth. They operate through a trauma-informed lens (such as within their CREST outreach program) and emphasize accessible, community-level care to avoid the intimidating atmosphere of large clinical facilities.
Complex Mental Health Issues: MindSense Psychiatry – A specialized practice dedicated entirely to trauma-informed psychiatric assessments for individuals navigating the impacts of complex trauma, abuse, and neglect. They focus heavily on cultural sensitivity and ensuring the evaluation process itself is collaborative and non-threatening.
Surrey Place – A core provider in Toronto offering diagnostic assessments, the Ontario Autism Program (OAP), and extensive caregiver support.
Geneva Centre for Autism – Offers a wide range of clinical services, social skills groups, and educational resources for individuals on the spectrum and their families.
Kerry’s Place Autism Services – Provides community-based support, respite programs, and foundational family services to assist with learning and development.
Strides Toronto – Partners for Success – Collaborates directly with the TDSB and TCDSB to offer mental health services and behavioural consultations to support children in local elementary schools.
Ontario Health atHome – School Health Support Services – Care coordinators work with school principals and special education representatives to create supportive care plans for students with complex needs.
Possibilities Clinic – IEP Support – Offers specialized consultations with Ontario Certified Teachers to help parents understand assessments, navigate the special education system, and advocate for Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
The 519 – A prominent Toronto community centre offering trauma-informed counselling, peer support groups, and specialized programming for 2SLGBTQ+ youth, adults, and newcomers.
Sherbourne Health – Provides specialized primary care, mental health services, and highly regarded gender-affirming care and family navigation services.
Across Boundaries – Provides deeply specialized, trauma-informed mental health and addiction services for racialized communities in Toronto, operating strictly from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework.
Anishnawbe Health Toronto – Offers fully integrated holistic healthcare, combining traditional Indigenous healing practices with Western medicine for mental health, substance use, and trauma recovery.
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 9-8-8 (Available 24/7/365 across Canada for trauma-informed emotional support and suicide prevention).
Toronto Distress Centres: Call 416-408-4357 (Available 24/7 for immediate emotional support, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention).
Good2Talk: Call 1-866-925-5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868 (Provides free, confidential professional counselling and referrals specifically for mental health, addictions, and well-being).
Anxiety Canada – Features highly practical, evidence-based coping tools, including the “My Anxiety Plan” (MAP) self-help program and the free MindShift CBT app.
HelpGuide.org – A trusted, comprehensive nonprofit site offering deeply researched articles, toolkits, and guided meditations for managing stress, addiction, trauma, and emotional distress.
Mind – Provides exceptionally clear, step-by-step guides on how to make a coping plan, ground yourself during a panic attack, and navigate overwhelming or scary thoughts.
Michael Garron Hospital – Substance Use and Withdrawal Management – Offers 24/7, trauma-informed, and gender-transformative withdrawal management services, including rapid access clinics (RAAM) and outpatient programming.
Unity Health Toronto – Mental Health & Addictions – Provides interdisciplinary day and community withdrawal management, harm reduction education, and specialized outpatient case management.
Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres (OATC): Call 1-877-937-2282. Offers specialized medical services and harm reduction programs for treating opioid use disorder, with walk-in and same-day assessment options available at local clinics.
Families for Addiction Recovery (FAR) – Call 1-855-377-6677. A national charity offering free one-on-one peer support sessions, online support groups, and live phone support from trained volunteers who have lived experience supporting a loved one with an addiction.
Al-Anon Family Groups (Greater Toronto Area) – Call 416-487-5591 or Toll-Free 1-877-404-5591. Offers mutual support meetings (in-person and virtual) specifically designed to help families and friends of individuals struggling with alcohol dependency.
Nar-Anon Family Groups of Ontario – Call 416-239-0096 or Toll-Free 1-877-239-0096. A 12-step fellowship providing a safe, judgment-free space and structured support for those affected by someone else’s drug use.
Reconnect Health Services – FAME Support – Provides dedicated counselling, support groups, and coping skills education specifically for family members and caregivers of individuals experiencing mental health and addiction challenges in the west end of Toronto.
CAMH Family Resource Centre (FRC) – Call 416-535-8501 (Ext. 32028). A dedicated service that supports families in navigating the addictions system, offering educational materials,
psychoeducation groups, and system navigation assistance.
Sheena’s Place – Completely community-based and barrier-free (no medical diagnosis or referral required). They offer fantastic, professionally facilitated group support, including expressive arts and skill-building groups, for individuals navigating eating disorders and body image issues.
Gerstein Crisis Centre – A community-based, non-medical crisis intervention service in Toronto. They offer a 24/7 crisis line (416-929-5200), mobile crisis teams, and short-term safe beds as an alternative to hospital emergency rooms.