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A little can go a long way. Listen, share, and connect with friends, family, and strangers. Having someone willing to listen and empathize with our experiences can mean so much.

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It's important to get help if you or someone you know is going through a crisis or thinking about suicide. Help is available. Learn about the resources available to you.

On this page

Crisis help links

Help is available if you need to talk and you:

are not feeling yourself

are experiencing a crisis

have emotional pain

have thoughts of suicide

know someone who needs help

Canada Suicide Prevention Service

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566 (24/7).

For residents of Québec, call 1 866 APPELLE (1.866.277.3553).

Visit Crisis Services Canada for the distress centres and crisis organizations nearest you.

Kids Help Phone

Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868.

Available 24 hours a day to Canadians aged 5 to 29 who want confidential and anonymous care from trained responders.

To access support through Facebook Messenger see the Kids Help Phone website.

Hope for Wellness Help Line

Call 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or connect to the online Hope for Wellness chat.

Available to all Indigenous peoples across Canada who need immediate crisis intervention. Experienced and culturally sensitive help line counsellors can help if you want to talk or are distressed.

Telephone and online counselling are available in English and French. On request, telephone counselling is also available in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.

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Mental health support: get help - Canada.ca

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It's important to get help if you or someone you know is going through a crisis or thinking about suicide. Help is available. Learn about the resources available to you.

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A great blog to check out written by people who experience mental illness themselves!

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You'll find a community that has your back on The Mighty, no matter what health situation you're going through. We talk about what health is really like - mental health, chronic illness, disability, rare disease, cancer, and much more.

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Supporting pharmacists’ mental health and wellness during COVID-19

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Supporting pharmacists’ mental health and wellness during COVID-19

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CPhA put together this infographic which discusses how pharmacists can take care of their own mental health in light of COVID-19. One thing that really stood out to me was recommending we limit checking the news about COVID so frequently, and feel free to steer conversations away from COVID. It is overwhelming to cope with COVID in the workforce and it can be a lot to have conversations revolve around COVID in our free time as well. They also link some mental health resources for pharmacists and healthcare professionals at the bottom of the page!

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Great book on how to overcome negative thoughts & how to live a less anxious and more meaningful life :)

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Finding the right therapist can be hard. Finding a therapist that is aware of specific cultural and societal influences on mental health can be even harder. South Asian Therapists is an online community of culturally competent South Asian therapist that are here to serve the mental health needs of those in South Asian diasporas.

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Successful therapy depends on a strong client - therapist fit

We are the largest South Asian mental health community in the world. Our directory has hundreds of South Asian therapists, including therapists of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Afghani and Nepali heritage. Here you can find culturally competent South Asian mental health professionals to help you get the support you're looking for.

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South Asian Therapists - The first global directory of South Asian Therapists

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We are the largest South Asian mental health community in the world. Our directory has hundreds of South Asian therapists, including therapists of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Afghani and Nepali heritage. Here you can find culturally competent South Asian mental health professionals to help you get the support you're looking for.

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"The thing is, when it comes to finding a therapist—just like with dating—you deserve to know what you’re getting yourself into"

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Related Condition Centers

We welcome these questions, promise.

Going to a new mental health provider can feel a lot like going on an uncomfortable first date (minus the romantic stuff, obviously). When it's time to meet in person, you're likely feeling nervous and skeptical that this complete stranger could actually improve your life and have your best interests in mind at all times. But you're also hopeful that something good might just come out of this and it won't be a total flop. Maybe you keep your guard up and put out feelers throughout the first visit (or two, or seven) to see if you can actually vibe with this person. You know you should ask questions-and you have so many questions!-but you're a little wary of coming on too strong and accidentally saying something inappropriate.

The thing is, when it comes to finding a therapist-just like with dating-you deserve to know what you're getting yourself into. As a psychiatrist, I often do get questions that you might think are inappropriate to pose to your new therapist. But I can assure you we welcome these curiosities, especially if they help you feel more comfortable and open to continuing therapy-or even going in the first place. It's completely normal to feel distrusting of the process in the beginning. And it is more than okay to ask questions about the person's professional background, your treatment, and any and all fears you have about the mental health services you're getting.

Here are some of the most common seemingly awkward (but entirely normal) questions I receive, and exactly how I handle them. Hopefully, by answering these questions, I can help you feel at least a little bit less jittery about your first appointment with a new provider.

1. Is there a reason you're a psychiatrist/psychologist/social worker/family therapist/etc. rather than some other title?

There are a lot of different types of providers in the mental health space, and this can make things pretty confusing when you are looking for someone to see. To start, the term "therapist" is ambiguous and could refer to any person who is able to provide therapy (or what some people colloquially call "talk therapy"). This list includes social workers (LCSW), nurse practitioners (NP), physician assistants (PA), mental health counselors (MHC or LPC), marriage and family therapists (MFT), psychologists (Psy.D. and Ph.D.), and psychiatrists (M.D.). ( You can read more about different types of therapy and counseling degrees here.) While various types of experts can be great options, the right person to see really comes down to what your needs are and what specializations you're looking for in a provider.

So the answer to this question will completely depend on the expert you're asking and their personal reasons for going into a particular field. For instance, a clinical social worker helps people cope with mental health problems and diagnoses and treats mental and behavioral issues in many of the same ways that I do as a psychiatrist. But their career can also reach many other facets that I wouldn't necessarily cover, such as helping a family in need find housing, helping parents navigate the process of adopting a child, and many other situations.

To speak to my degree specifically, psychiatrists and psychologists require the most years of training. They might also, subsequently, charge more, which may be a barrier for some people and a reason they don't want to see a psychiatrist or psychologist. Psychiatrists, like me, are also the only group of mental health providers that goes to medical school, and as a result, are able to prescribe psychiatric medication. We have the same training as all other doctors prior to specialization, so we also understand psychological manifestations of physical illnesses (like experiencing depression as a result of a cancer diagnosis or cancer treatment) and what else to be looking and testing for (we often order lab tests).

Due to our ability to prescribe and our medical background, psychiatrists often see people with more severe mental illness. Typically, therapy alone is a first step for many illnesses, and medication is considered as a next step if needed. However, the reverse is not true, meaning if you feel you want to see a psychiatrist, that does not necessarily mean you have a serious mental illness. We still see patients for psychotherapy alone.

So, don't be afraid to ask your provider why they chose their specialty and what makes them uniquely suited (or not) to care for you as a patient. You can even ask them this upfront, before your first visit, to make sure you are going to the right person. In my case, I chose to become a psychiatrist as I always wanted to have medical training, but I didn't know what type of doctor I wanted to be when I went to medical school. I loved the ability to have time with my patients and get to hear their stories, while also still being a physician, ultimately leading me to psychiatry.

2. Can I actually trust that everything I say to you stays between you and me?

The short answer to this question is mostly yes. Everything you tell me (and other mental health professionals) in session is confidential, except in instances where you are an imminent danger to yourself, a danger to someone else, or are expressly unable to care for yourself anymore due to your psychiatric illness. In those circumstances, we are legally obligated to breach confidentiality to protect you or the person you want to harm.

The word "imminent," however, is key. For example, a patient can have suicidal thoughts, which in theory implies they pose a danger to themself, without having a plan or intent. This is an incredibly important distinction. Suicidal thoughts are actually quite common and not always an emergency. This means that just telling me you think about dying will not result in me breaking confidentiality. However, telling me you have a detailed plan to end your life would lead me to break confidentiality.

Mental health providers are also mandated reporters for things like child abuse and elder abuse and would have to disclose those things if they came up in conversation. Domestic violence reporting is more complicated, state-dependent, and often isn't mandated.

When it comes to psychiatry specifically, we also do document each visit like other providers do with medical records, mostly for insurance purposes. These notes, again, are confidential. In most institutions, psychiatry notes are protected and require an additional level of clearance to even be seen by other providers. Psychiatrists often will put minimal details in the notes, particularly in regards to psychotherapy, to further protect the sanctity of the patient-provider relationship. But we will always have to include a diagnosis, which other care providers are typically able to see on your chart.

3. If you have so many patients, how do I know you'll be focused on and care about me individually?

I can only speak for myself on this one, but the training we undergo in this field teaches us to multitask and to multitask well. It also teaches us to look at each individual person and their experience and to not only associate them with a particular diagnosis or disease (e.g. you are not a schizophrenic, but a person who happens to have schizophrenia). I give each patient the same attention, empathy, brain space, and thought, and I place equivalent value on each and every interaction. But the only way you would know that, I think, would be to actually trust me, which is easier said than done when you just met someone. But I tell my patients who exhibit this skepticism: Trust that I am doing the best I can to care for you as an individual and not another number.

If, however, you ever feel like your provider isn't listening to you or doesn't remember you or your presentation, it's really important that you bring it up with them. You can say, "I'm feeling like you don't remember my story or details about me when I come to our sessions," or, "I feel like I've repeated a few things in our conversations together, and I hope that my story is not getting lost on you or confused with others." It gives them a chance to know how you are feeling and what you are noticing in session. It also gives your provider a chance to do better. We're all human, after all. After that, if you still are unsatisfied, it is more than okay to try to find another provider who you connect with better or who seems to listen to you more.

4. How do I know you'll respect and understand core issues of my identity?

It's really important to have transparent conversations with a new or potential therapist about their competence with any issues of identity that are important to you. This is particularly true because, even if you try your hardest to find a therapist or psychiatrist in your area who has an identity that matches your own marginalized identity, due to sheer numbers, you unfortunately may still be unsuccessful.

Jessica Gaddy Brown, LICSW, CEO of Nia Noire Therapy+Wellness, suggests asking the following questions to help gauge a new or potential therapist's cultural competence:

Have you served clients of [insert your background, identity, and/or belief system] in the past?

What training have you completed to effectively serve people of my background, identity, and/or belief system?

What work have you done to challenge your own personal biases and beliefs and increase cultural sensitivity?

Jack Turban, M.D., a fellow in child and adolescent psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he researches LGBTQ mental health, recommends one additional screening question for his LGBTQ patients: Asking providers if they know anything about or have heard of the minority stress model, which he describes as, "the predominant framework for understanding mental health disparities among LGBTQ people." If providers are aware of it, or better yet, can thoroughly explain it, that's a good sign they are comfortable helping patients with it.

The answers to these questions should help you identify whether you would feel comfortable seeing that person as a mental health provider. If, after this conversation, your new or potential provider doesn't feel like they can help or support your specific needs enough, they should provide a referral to someone with more relevant expertise. (Or, if they feel equipped but you aren't comfortable with their answers, you can consider asking for said referrals.)

Additionally, you can find providers who either share aspects of your identity-or who don't but are at least culturally competent enough for your needs-by word of mouth from people in your community and/or by looking for therapy group practices that may focus on that particular identity. You can also look through databases specifically meant to help people in marginalized groups find experts who understand or at the very least respect those lived experiences.

Dr. Turban points out, however, that he would not immediately trust the specialty filters on more general therapist-finder websites. He says, "I find that many of the therapists on there click all boxes offered and may not have actual expertise in caring for those patients when you actually contact them," he says. Even better reason to ask the above kinds of identity and cultural competence questions any time you have an inkling they might be helpful.

5. Are you going to push medication on me?

This is by far the most common question I get as a psychiatrist and also the most common stereotype of my field. Again, I can only speak for myself here, but if you are referred to me for a medication evaluation, the key word is "evaluation." This means that I will ask you a lot of questions about your symptoms, other possible connected symptoms, your psychiatric history (including medications, diagnoses, and hospitalizations), your family history, your social history (substances, support system, your education, your background), and your medical history. I then will try to use all of that information to decide if I think what is going on with you would be managed well by medication. This has even become a bit more complicated in the pandemic, where pretty much everyone has been exhibiting some baseline anxiety and depression symptoms and it's important for me to figure out how much it is affecting their lives.

If I think that medication could benefit you, I will present my case to you for why I think medication would help, what medication in particular I think makes sense, the risks of that medication, the benefits of that medication, and the alternatives to that medication. Then, it's really up to you whether you actually want to take the medication.

You could go home and read about it some more, you could (and should) ask any questions you might have, and you could ask to start at a lower dose if you feel you are sensitive to medication and side effects. I typically lay out a good amount of options for my patients as I don't want the relationship to feel paternalistic. I want them to feel like we are making an educated decision together because we are. By doing so, I feel like patients will feel more motivated to take medication daily and will have more belief in their efficacy.

It's ultimately your choice, and I am just here to present the facts and what I think will be best for you and help you the most. There are very few instances where medication can be "forced" on any person, and they are all, by definition, emergencies.

6. Am I going to need medication forever?

This is another medication-related question I get frequently, and the answer entirely depends on what your diagnosis is, how long you have had it, and how many "episodes" you have had. Medication for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, for example, generally will require a person to stay on their medication plan long-term or perhaps permanently. For people with these disorders, it is always my goal to help them land on a medication or combination of medications that they tolerate and truly feel like have more benefits than risks.

But for some conditions, the length of time a person stays on medication may vary greatly depending on the individual. A good example of this is someone with depression: If you have never had depression before and this is your first episode that has required medication, I may tell you that you can try coming off of the medication (with my guidance, not on your own) after you are stable in your mental health for about six months.

If, however, you have had an episode before and this is a recurrence of depression, chances are you will need to stay on that medication. In this case, I will encourage you to think of daily medication as a prevention method-taking medication or otherwise looking after your mental health is not a sign that you or your health has failed in any way.

7. How do I know your advice is good enough for me to take it?

I hear you. It's incredibly hard to have unjustified faith in a person you think will tell you what you should be doing to "get better." The cool thing is therapists aren't actually in the business of advice-giving. Think of therapy more as a safe space to work through things you are struggling with. I might help give you tools (or help fortify or identify existing strengths within you), but you actually do all the work. You might practice some things in this safe space we create together, within our therapeutic relationship, but then you alone go out into the world and hopefully use what you learned to strengthen your connections and relationships outside of therapy. In other words, I'm never giving you some exact blueprint for how to solve an issue. I'm helping you examine yourself and your life and relationships, I'm a sounding board, and I'm a place of trust and security.

I also want you to know that you're allowed to gut-check your experience with a new provider to help build that trust and sense of security. You are obviously welcome to read about the recommendations and/or medications your provider is suggesting before making a decision. But to avoid getting overwhelmed by a ton of information or misled by misinformation, it's best to make sure you are reading the evidence, analysis, and recommendations that decision-making in psychiatry has been based on. You can always ask your provider where you can go to learn more or better understand where a medical recommendation or therapy method derives from, or the websites for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) are excellent, credible places to start.

8. If you're already prescribing me medication, do I really need to see you for therapy too?

I wish we had some miracle medication that worked not just on its own for every mental health condition, but also quickly and flawlessly. But at the present time, we don't. A lot of our medications take a good deal of time to work, and they don't necessarily work by themselves without guidance and support and other forms of treatment to supplement them.

For instance, antidepressants can take six to eight weeks to start working, and many people notice side effects long before they notice benefits. Because of this, and also because studies suggest that medication alone is inferior to medication plus therapy, I recommend therapy to pretty much everyone.

I am also of the opinion that the majority of people, even those who don't think they have a mental health-related reason to work with a therapist, can benefit from having an outlet outside of their friends and family to just talk openly and confidentially.

9. If I spot you in line at the grocery store, what should I do?

Run. KIDDING! This happens to me a lot, given that I work in a university and see a lot of my colleagues as patients. If I see someone in public, I typically don't acknowledge them until they acknowledge me. This can sometimes make a person feel like I ignored them if we did not previously discuss the possibility of this scenario, which is why I try to talk about it first with my patients and let them know I will not wave and call out their name in public and will take cues from them on how to interact.

I err on the side of caution when interacting with patients outside of our sessions in part due to the stigma (that needs to disappear) associated with psychiatry and mental health issues. If, for instance, someone else on campus knows that I am a psychiatrist and sees that we know each other, I would never want this interaction to make you nervous that an outsider now assumes that you see a therapist or that you have mental health issues.

Believe me, I wish this weren't a thing and that I were viewed the same way as your primary care provider, but we're not there yet in our society. I also know the things you discuss with a mental health provider you may not discuss with anyone, so seeing your therapist in public can just make you feel weird or vulnerable, so I don't try to emphasize that by making you acknowledge me in a different setting.

So, speak to your mental health provider about what they tend to do in a scenario where you spot each other outside of your one-on-one time, and tell them how you prefer they handle it.

10. No offense, but what if I just don't like you as a provider-should I stick it out?

If you can afford it and there are other options in your community, you should absolutely leave a provider with whom you're just not connecting even after giving it a bit of time.

Studies suggest that "fit" and the therapist-provider relationship are actually some of the strongest indicators of success in treatment. Because of this, I will often tell patients that we are using the first few sessions to get to know each other and that it is okay to not like me. I would much rather someone leave me and find someone else and still get treatment than be scared out of mental health treatment completely.

That being said, keep in mind that the first few visits (especially the very first one) are pretty data collection-heavy, and you should try to give it more than one visit if you can stomach it. If you like some aspects of your therapist or your time together but not all, you can even tell your therapist what hasn't been working and try to give them a chance to fix it.

11. What are the benefits and drawbacks of teletherapy appointments with you?

There are certainly pluses and minuses to telehealth appointments for both the patient and the provider. It absolutely has logistical benefits, like not having to drive long distances to an appointment or budget out time (or money) for parking.

Brown says one of the things she most likes about telehealth is the ability to have her clients practice skills in the safety and security of their own homes. "I often experience clients doing great work in the office, then having difficulty maintaining those practices within their home because of the adjustment and environmental cues," she explains. "Telehealth has been a great option to mitigate some of these factors to truly engage in experiential, tactile learning." For instance, if you're struggling with eating behaviors, you can literally show your therapist what a typical meal looks like.

But, there are also issues with telehealth that are worth considering. It can be difficult to find quiet, private areas, and patients can end up calling from anywhere from the bathroom to the car. internet connection can also go out and is worth testing beforehand. As Brown puts it, "there's nothing worse than poor connection and buffering during a deep "aha!" moment!"

Brown recommends checking in with your therapist about your feelings about telehealth and any challenges you are experiencing. This may help them consider some modifications, or, if it makes sense for you and your therapist, you might consider returning to them in person. I personally do this with my own therapist as I am on telehealth appointments all day as the doctor and really need a different view when I am the patient to be able to focus and retain more.

12. What safety precautions are you taking for in-person appointments right now?

It is important to keep in mind that if you are considering going to an in-person appointment, asking your therapist about vaccination status, masking, and other safety behaviors becomes more of a concern. Brit Barkholtz, MSW, LICSW, a clinical therapist in St. Paul Minnesota, points out that therapists do not have to disclose their scientific beliefs or health information, making this a potentially tricky area to navigate. But she does feel that therapists should be open to talking about their public health practices with anyone trying to determine the safety and comfort of in-person appointments. "I tell people often there are no questions that are out of bounds to ask in therapy, just questions a therapist may not answer," Barkholtz says. "This would be a question I think is not only not out of bounds to ask, but also one I would hope a therapist would answer with the understanding of it as an informed consent concern."

If you're wishing you could do in-person appointments but just not feeling ready, that's perfectly okay. Ultimately, Barkholtz points out that to her, there is really no better or worse option when it comes to teletherapy vs. in-person appointments. "It's really about what the best fit is for you," she says. "And if you aren't sure what the best fit is, that is a fantastic conversation to have with your provider who can potentially help you figure that out."

See more from our Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health here.
Related:

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12 Questions to Ask Your New Therapist Before You Decide If They're the One

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Related Condition Centers We welcome these questions, promise. Going to a new mental health provider can feel a lot like going on an uncomfortable first date (minus the romantic stuff, obviously). When it's time to meet in person, you're likely feeling nervous and skeptical that this complete stranger could actually improve your life and have your best interests in mind at all times.

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https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/service/mental-health-care/

A faculty member shared this resource with me, and advised that same-day appointments can be made and there are people there who will offer support in various ways, from speaking directly about mental health and stress management to dealing with school projects. I haven't used it yet but I know where to go if I need to reach out for some advice!

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Health & Wellness counsellors are available at designated locations as a student service. Each location or site provides brief counselling for those students registered in that particular faculty, department, college or residence.

On location counselling is offered at the following colleges/departments/programs/residences:

Architecture, Landscape & Design (Daniels)

Chestnut Residence

Dentistry

Engineering

First Nations House

Graduate & Life Sciences Education

Hart House

Innis College

iSchool (Faculty of Information)

Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE)

Law

Munk School of Global Affairs

Music

New College

Nursing

Pharmacy

Rotman Commerce

Rotman MBA

School of Graduate Studies (SGS)

Trinity College

TYP (Transitional Year Program)

Undergraduate programs (Arts & Science)

University College

Varsity Athletics

Victoria College

Woodsworth College

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There are many ways to take care of your mental health and lots of services to help you get started. From learning new skills and changing old habits, to talking to peers who understand what you're going through, you'll find lots of ways to access mental health support on campus.If you're looking for mental health [...]

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Mental health resources for health care workers

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Mental health resources for health care workers

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https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-health-and-covid-19/information-for-professionals

COVID-19 has had a mental toll on everyone, one of the main groups being healthcare workers. CAMH has some helpful mental health resources (webpages, apps, and services) during these tough times.

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The help you need is here

CAMH provides access to mental health and addiction supports for health care workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes access to resources, psychotherapy and psychiatric services.

Digital COVID-19 and Mental Health Resource List

A CAMH research team, in consultation with health care providers, digital and mental health experts, and people with lived experience, has curated a list of websites and mobile apps designed to help people through the COVID-19 pandemic..

Visit the Resource List page.

For more information, please see the attached overview

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Resources for Health Care Workers During COVID-19

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CAMH provides access to mental health and addiction supports for health care workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes access to resources, psychotherapy and psychiatric services. A CAMH research team, in consultation with health care providers, digital and mental health experts, and people with lived experience, has curated a list of websites and mobile apps designed to help people through the COVID-19 pandemic..

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Free Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Ontario Residents

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Free Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Ontario Residents

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https://www.mindbeacon.com/

I came across this free CBT tool for Ontario Residents a couple of months ago. It is a non-crisis tool used for people who may be suffering from depression, anxiety, panic, PTSD, stress and other concerns impacting well-being.

I have no personal experience with this online tool as of yet, however I wanted to share it in case there may be fellow students seeking CBT who cannot necessarily afford it or who want increased accessibility online!

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MindBeacon offers Canadians a wide spectrum of digital mental health support.

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Highly recommend this book. The author details several small ways to change your life and perspective, to overall be happier :)

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Click the "+" button at the bottom of the page to post

Share your thoughts, experiences, media (i.e. articles, books, movies, video clips, photos, artwork)

Pharmacy Students: Include your name with your post or somewhere else on the board to receive a UPS point!

We kindly ask that you refrain from posting graphic or offensive content.

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CPhA developed the Canadian Pharmacy Mental Health and Workforce Wellness Survey to help understand the state of mental health and pressures being felt by pharmacy professionals during this challenging time. The results will help inform their work with government and key stakeholders to support and address the mental health and well-being of the profession.

https://www.pharmacists.ca/advocacy/pharmacy-workforce-wellness/?utm_source=cpha&utm_medium=cnw&utm_campaign=pww&utm_content=webpage

Arnold Ruste, 2T3

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The Canadian Pharmacy Mental Health and Workforce Wellness Survey

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The Canadian Pharmacy Mental Health and Workforce Wellness Survey.

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Recently came across this app created by our very own UTSU in hopes of providing students with accessible and affordable mental health resources. You have access to 24/7 care and they coordinate with UHIP to ensure that it is covered. Proud of UTSU for creating something like this :)
https://www.utsu.ca/empowerme/

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UTSU - University of Toronto Student Union

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UTSU pilots new 24-7 student counselling service EMPOWER ME - UTSU - University of Toronto Student Union

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Like many campuses across Canada, U of T is experiencing a mental health crisis. Year-after-year the UTSU has lobbied for more mental health supports but students still face significant barriers to accessing help, from long wait lists for free on-campus support to insufficient insurance to access…

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Mental Health is so important now so sharing the university's resources so we can stay well and hopeful! https://mentalhealth.utoronto.ca

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Mental Health Continuum

No matter where you are on the mental wellness continuum, from being proactive about your mental well-being to feeling stressed or needing urgent help, U of T is here to support you. We are actively engaged in your mental well-being and want to empower you to discover the resources you need to feel and do your best. Whether it's a bad day, a break-up, a life changing event or an urgent crisis, we are always here and can help you take your first step on your mental health journey.

I am curious about improving my overall mental health.

I am a bit stressed and looking for positive coping strategies.

I feel like I need some help and counselling with what I am feeling.

I am overwhelmed, I need help now.

As part of a large, diverse group of students, you need to feel supported by a community that encourages you to thrive. Our mental health resource hub has the tools, strategies and experts to meet you exactly where you are on your mental health journey.

You've come to the right place.

Find Support and Services

On any given day, there are hundreds of mental health resources available for you at U of T. In fact there are so many choices, we want to highlight a few every week to help you decide where to start.

U of T My Student Support Program (My SSP)

Providers: UTM, UTSC, UTSG | Care Categories: Acute Care and Crisis Services, Flexible Intensive Individual Programming

You can access U of T My Student Support Program (U of T My SSP) 24/7 by calling 1-844-451-9700. Outside of North America, call 001-416-380-6578. (See instructions for accessing My SSP outside of Canada or the U.S. under Service Delivery.)

U of T My SSP provides students with real-time and/or appointment-based confidential, 24-hour support for any school, health, or general life concern at no cost to you. You can call or chat with a counsellor directly from your phone whenever, wherever you are.

Ongoing support is available over the phone in 146 languages. Immediate support is available over the phone in 35 languages and over chat in simplified Chinese, English, French and Spanish.

Get help and advice about:

Being successful at school

Practical issues while studying

Relationships with friends and family

Language and cultural barriers

Stress, sadness and loneliness

Balancing work and school

Difficulty adjusting to life in Canada

Download the My SSP app: Apple App Store | Google Play.

The service is provided by keepme SAFE in partnership with Morneau Shepell.

Campus-Specific Mental Health Resources

Providers: UTM, UTSC, UTSG | Care Category: Informational Self-Directed

On- and off-campus resources and supports specific to campus communities for mental health, emergencies, financial, housing, sexual assault/safety and more.

Build Your Toolkit

Looking to build your personal mental wellness toolkit? Check out our latest offerings!

Student Mental Health Support at U of T

Type: Videos | Category: State of being

Watch this overview video on student mental health supports at U of T.

UTSC Exam Jam Toolkit

Type: Website | Categories: Academic, Skills development

Exam Jam is back! Access a variety of study and stress-busting modules throughout the month to support you with upcoming final exams.

Woebot: Your Self-Care Expert

Type: Apps | Category: State of being

Woebot is a free app that uses tools from Cognitive Behaviourial Therapy (CBT) to help guide you through situations and challenges, track your mood, and learn new skills.

BounceBack

Type: Videos | Categories: Skills development, State of being

UTSG: Health & Wellness Peer Support

Chat with a trained University of Toronto student peer about whatever is on your mind, right away. Support is offered in a one-on-one, drop-in, non-judgemental, confidential and accessible virtual space.

UTSC: Health & Wellness Centre groups

Five benefits of attending a group at the UTSC Health & Wellness Centre:

1. Know you are not alone⁠.

2. Make connections with others.

3. Learn to approach concerns from different perspectives.

4. Discover options from shared experiences.

5. Be supported in a confidential space.⁠

Groups run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Sign up via CLNx.⁠

UTM: Wellness at Home

The UTM Health & Counselling Centre (HCC) offers daily wellness workshops, activities, and resources from Mondays to Fridays via our Wellness at Home Program.

Weekly schedule:

Mindfulness Meditation (1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.) - sessions led daily by HCC counselling staff

Together Tuesdays (2 p.m. - 3 p.m.) - weekly peer-led chats and activities focused on different wellness topics

Wellness Wednesdays (1 p.m. - 2 p.m.) - Wellness 101 Workshops led by UTM staff and faculty

Self-Care Thursdays - weekly inspirational posts, activities and videos for self-care

Foodie Fridays - weekly food tips and facts from UTM's dietitian

Follow @utmhccwellness on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to receive the latest updates about our upcoming events.

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No matter where you are on the mental wellness continuum, from being proactive about your mental well-being to feeling stressed or needing urgent help, U of T is here to support you. We are actively engaged in your mental well-being and want to empower you to discover the resources you need to feel and do your best.

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Overcoming the stigma around mental illness. | Michaela Mulenga | TEDxCasey

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An insightful look into the life of a psychiatrist

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This was a great read that brought you along the journey of a Psychiatrist's typical day and their wide range of patients. He's a local Toronto psychiatrist, so very close to home!
"How Can I Help? portrays a week in the life of Dr. David Goldbloom as he treats patients, communicates with families, and trains staff at CAMH, the largest psychiatric facility in Canada. This highly readable and touching behind-the-scenes account of his daily encounters with a wide range of psychiatric concerns—from his own patients and their families to Emergency Department arrivals—puts a human face on an often misunderstood area of medical expertise. From schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder to post-traumatic stress syndrome and autism, How Can I Help? investigates a range of mental issues."

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Mental Health Continuum

No matter where you are on the mental wellness continuum, from being proactive about your mental well-being to feeling stressed or needing urgent help, U of T is here to support you. We are actively engaged in your mental well-being and want to empower you to discover the resources you need to feel and do your best. Whether it's a bad day, a break-up, a life changing event or an urgent crisis, we are always here and can help you take your first step on your mental health journey.

I am curious about improving my overall mental health.

I am a bit stressed and looking for positive coping strategies.

I feel like I need some help and counselling with what I am feeling.

As part of a large, diverse group of students, you need to feel supported by a community that encourages you to thrive. Our mental health resource hub has the tools, strategies and experts to meet you exactly where you are on your mental health journey.

You've come to the right place.

Find Support and Services

On any given day, there are hundreds of mental health resources available for you at U of T. In fact there are so many choices, we want to highlight a few every week to help you decide where to start.

Build Your Toolkit

Looking to build your personal mental wellness toolkit? Check out our latest offerings!

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No matter where you are on the mental wellness continuum, from being proactive about your mental well-being to feeling stressed or needing urgent help, U of T is here to support you. We are actively engaged in your mental well-being and want to empower you to discover the resources you need to feel and do your best.

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Elyn Saks discusses her story of living with schizophrenia

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"The book details Dr. Jamison's experience with bipolar disorder and how it affected her in various areas of her life from childhood up until the writing of the book. Narrated in the first person, the book shows the effect of manic-depressive illness in family and romantic relationships, professional life, and self-awareness, and highlights both the detrimental effects of the illness and the few positive ones."