A compilation of available hotlines, counseling, therapy services, and resources available in a variety of formats and languages.
Do you find yourself having difficulty sleeping?
Do you feel more anxious or do you have panic attacks?
Do you feel overwhelming pressure to hold things together?
Is caregiving causing unmanageable stress?
If you answered “often” or “sometimes”, you may benefit from wellbeing help and counselling.
Having one of your loved ones enter a residential long-term care home can be one of the most difficult and emotionally-wracking decisions of your life. As a family member or close individual, the pressure of making the right decision can be nerve-wracking.
Reaching out for support can be difficult, but it is important to be a caregiver and care advocate for yourself too.
Reading
Nursing Homes and Assisted Living | The Family’s Guide to Making Decisions and Getting Good Care by Peter S. Silin, MSW, RSW
“Among the most valuable chapters in this book is one titled ‘Making a Home Better,’ which includes wonderful advice on how a loved one can influence what goes on inside a nursing home. His inclusion of real-life stories from the families he’s encountered over 20 years anchors the book compassionately.”
—Los Angeles Times
Crisis Day: When A Loved One Enters Care
An article also published by geriatric social worker Peter Silin. He encapsulates the intense emotions of caregivers and families and provides excellent advice for the long-term care home transition.
Hotlines
Gerstein Centre – a mental health hotline that can provide mental health and substance use support.
416-929-5200
Notes:
- Language interpretation services are available in over 150 languages
Distress Centres of Greater Toronto – a collection of mental health hotlines around the Greater Toronto Area.
GTA: 416-408-4357
Peel region: 905-495-7777
Caledon: 877-298-5444
Mobile text for support: 45645
TeleType (TTY): 905-278-4890
Notes:
- Peel region hotline offers multilingual interpretation for English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu
- Multilingual hotline runs from 10am to 10pm Toronto time, Monday to Friday
First Nations, Métis & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line – a hotline for Indigenous peoples of First Nations, Métis or Inuit descent in Canada to use
1-855-242-3310
24/7 support
Notes:
- Languages: Cree, Ojibway, Inuktitut, English, and French
Be Safe app – a mobile app for you to create a mental health safety plan and help you get the support you need.
Notes:
- Available on the Google Play Store and App Store
Counselling and therapy
MindBeacon – text-based communication with a therapist.
Cost: Free
Notes:
- Commitment required: one hour each week
Gestalt Institute Student Clinic – low-cost therapy clinic with students training to be therapists as counsellors.
Cost: $40/session for up to one year. After one year, the therapist-in-training may increase the rate
TeleCBT – telephone-based communication with a therapist.
Cost: Fees start at $150/session
Notes:
- They can also take OHIP-covered one-on-one therapy
Counselling Services for York Region
Cost: $280/hour for most counselling services
Notes:
- List of counselling services include but are not limited to grief/loss
Across Boundaries – providing mental health support for communities of colour in Toronto. They practice counselling with anti-oppression frameworks in mind.
Cost: Free.
Notes:
- Multilingual support for Caribbean dialects; Shona, Amharic, Harare, Xhosa, Tsonga, Afrikaans, Swahili, Somali, Twi; Dari, Pashto, Farsi (Persian); Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali; Mandarin
- Apply here (choose Across Boundaries as a service provider) or call 416-787-3007
Asian Canadian therapist directory
Cost: Rates vary
Notes:
- The filters can be used to narrow down search results for costs and other items
Cost: Rates vary
Notes:
- The filters can be used to narrow down search results for costs and other items
Cost: Rates vary
Notes:
- The filters can be used to narrow down search results for costs and other items
Wabano Centre – a centre that serves Indigenous peoples of Canada in areas including but not limited to medical care and mental health support
Cost: unknown
Ontario Long-Term Care Toolkit 101 