The following crisis and distress lines can be accessed by phone (some by text) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are in a moment when you feel overwhelmed by your thoughts and need immediate support, you can contact one or more of these lines.
If you feel you or someone close to you is at risk of harming yourself or others, please call 911.
PLEASE NOTE: Think of safety in an intersectional way. Many members of some minority communities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPoC), can have safety concerns about calling 911 as a first response during particular crises.
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Toronto Distress Centre
Anyone in distress. Callers can express their thoughts and feelings in confidence. Callers’ issues can include problems related to domestic violence, social isolation, suicide, addictions, mental and physical health concerns. The Distress Centre offers emotional support, crisis intervention, suicide prevention and linkage to emergency help when necessary.
- Call: 416-408-HELP (4357)
- Website: https://www.dcogt.com/408-help-line
Gerstein Crisis Centre
Anyone in crisis. Helpline is staffed by crisis workers and offers in-person community visits and a residence where people in crisis can stay for short periods of time.
- Call: 416-929-5200
- Website: https://gersteincentre.org/
Crisis Services Canada
A barrier-free, non-judgmental space with supportive and responsive responders for anyone thinking about suicide or worried about someone having suicidal thoughts.
- Call: 1-833-456-4566
- Text: 45645 (only 4pm – 12am)
- Website: https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/
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Here is a listing of 24/7 Information and Referral Lines:
ConnexOntario
Province-wide information and referral services for those with mental health or addiction challenges.
- Mental Health Helpline: 1-866-531-2600
- Drug and Alcohol Helpline: 1-800-565-8603
- Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-888-230-3505
- Website: http://www.connexontario.ca/
Community and Social Services Hotline
- Call: 211
- Website: www.211toronto.ca
Emergency Shelter Access (24/7)
- Call: 416-338-4766 or 1-877-338-3398
- Ontario Legal Line (24/7): 416-929-8400
Telehealth Ontario (24/7)
- Call: 1-866-797-0000
Toronto Substance Withdrawal Management System (24/7)
- Call: 416 864-5040 or 1 866 366-9513
Toronto Police Services Non-Emergency Line (24/7)
- Call: 416-808-2222
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Additional 24/7 Crisis and Distress Support Lines:
Assaulted Women’s Helpline
Women in Ontario who have experienced abuse. Support available in a variety of languages.
- Call: 1-866-863-0511 / TTY 1-866-863-7868
Website: https://www.awhl.org/home
Fem’aide
Francophone women. Offre aux femmes d’expression française aux prises avec la violence sexiste, du soutien, des renseignements et de l’aiguillage vers les services appropriés dans leur collectivité.
- Call: 1-877-336-2433
- Website: https://femaide.ca/
Hope for Wellness Helpline
Immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to offer:
- Counselling
- Crisis intervention
Call the toll-free Help Line 1-855-242-3310
Website with online chat: www.hopeforwellness.ca
Kids Help Phone
People under 20 years old. Free, anonymous and confidential phone and on-line professional counselling and referral service.
- Call: 1-800-668-6868 / Text: 686868
- Website: https://kidshelpphone.ca/
Ontario Online & Text Crisis Services
Free, confidential online chat and text service available from your computer or mobile device. Operates daily from 2pm-2am.
- Text: 741741
- Website: www.dcontario.org
Scarborough Hospital Mobile Crisis Program
Crisis support located in Scarborough. Offers in-person community visits and connection to hospital if needed.
- Call: 416-495-2891
- Website: https://www.shn.ca/mental-health/crisis-support/
Senior Crisis Access Line
A specialized service for seniors in the Home and Community Care Support Services Toronto Central area which provides assistance in stabilizing age-related mental health and addiction crises, risk and safety assessments, immediate referrals to community mobile crisis units, and support for families and caregivers.
- Call: 416-619-5001
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre
Telephone crisis line offering feminist peer support to survivors of any form of sexual violence. Also offers in-person counselling and other services.
- Call: 416-597-8808 / TTY: 416-597-1214
Toronto Seniors Helpline
This program provides on-call crisis intervention and outreach services for adults (65+) with dementia, addictions or mental illness who need temporary, short-term support.
- Call: 416-217-2077
- Hours: 9am-5pm daily
- Website: https://www.woodgreen.org/programs/crisis-outreach-service-for-seniors
Trans Lifeline
Peer support hotline for transgender and gender non-conforming people experiencing crisis/distress staffed by self-identified trans people.
- Call: 1-877-330-6366
- Hours: 7am-1am PST / 9am-3am CST / 10am-4am EST.
- Volunteers may be available during off hours.
Website: translifeline.org
Victim Services
Short-term crisis response, intervention and prevention services which are responsive to the needs of individuals, families and communities in the immediate aftermath of crime and sudden tragedy (typically within 72 hours).
- Call: 416-808-7066
- Website: https://victimservicestoronto.com/
The Warm Line and Peer Crisis Support Service for York Region, South Simcoe and North York (Central LHIN)
For Central LHIN members.
- Call: 1-888-777-0979
York Support Services Network
York region crisis telephone helpline. Also offers in-person community visits (either by mental health workers or a mental health worker and a police officer) and a residence where people in crisis can stay for short periods of time.
- Call: 1-855-310-COPE (2673) / 1-866-323-7785
- Website: https://www.yssn.ca/
Youthdale’s Crisis Support Team
For youth. The team assesses each child’s risk and mental status through telephone interviews and if required, Mobile Response. This assessment will involve the parent or guardian and the professionals caring for the child. A Youthdale child psychiatrist is available to consult with the Crisis Support Team at all times. Any parent or legal guardian in Ontario can call the Youthdale Psychiatric Crisis Services and get immediate access to trained professionals.
- Call: (416) 363-9990
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This list is in alphabetical order and was updated by CILT in December 2020. If there is a crisis line that should be added to this list please email peers@cilt.ca.
