In this section, you will find information and resources for youth that provide insight, tips and suggestions on how to cope with mental illness and enjoy success in school and in life.
Support Services
Empowering Youth ,
Changing Lives
Central Toronto Youth Services (CTYS) is a community-based, accredited Children’s Mental Health Centre located in downtown Toronto. Since 1973, CTYS has been at the forefront of serving at-risk youth. http://www.ctys.org/
Delisle operates many programs: including counselling, a group home, a day treatment program, in school programs, a queer youth program, an art gallery, a youth centre and residential case management for teens with complex special needs. All of our programs provide opportunities for youth and families to tell us what they need and to help shape the work we do together.
Many young people and their families are referred to East Metro Youth Services (EMYS) because they are experiencing social, emotional or behavioural problems. These problems may exist in isolation or they may be complicated by physical, cognitive, or other difficulties. http://www.emys.on.ca/
Griffin Centre offers a range of professional services including; assessment, service coordination and planning, individual, family and group counselling, specialized day/residential services and respite services.
Oolagen is an accredited mental health centre helping Toronto youth and their families. Highly-respected for the work it does, Oolagen serves as a University of Toronto teaching facility and is long-term partners with the Toronto District School Board, the Children’s Aid Society, Catholic Children’s Aid, Ministry of Children and Youth Services, as well as other children’s mental health agencies and community groups.
The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre is built on the collective history of two extraordinary children’s mental health centres – the C.M. Hincks Treatment Centre and the Dellcrest Children’s Centre. In 1998, the two centres amalgamated to form The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre. We are a leading edge, non-profit children’s mental health centre offering a comprehensive range of innovative mental health services to infants, children, youth, and their families. Our vision is to bring hope, optimism, and possibilities to the children and families we serve.
TURNING POINT YOUTH SERVICES is a multi-service accredited children’s mental health centre. We are located in Toronto’s downtown core and provide a range of mental health, counselling and support services to at-risk and vulnerable youth 12-24 and their families.
Yorktown Family Services (YFS) is a fully accredited community service agency comprised of an infant, child, and family mental health centre; Violence Against Women shelter and programs; and an integrated services site offering multiple mental health, primary health, and social service programs for youth and young adults. For over 25 years, Yorktown has been providing a wide range of barrier-free services in Toronto’s most vulnerable communities to support and equip women, children, youth and families to create positive change in their lives. Yorktown offers an array of programs, all free of charge, including Rapid Access Counselling and On-going Counselling offered virtually, group programs including CHOICES, a substance abuse prevention program for ages 13–25, Rainbow West, a peer support program for 2LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, access to psychiatric assessment in partnership with The Hospital for Sick Children, and Care Navigation to connect clients to all the supports and services they require.
Help Ahead is for anyone under 18 looking for mental health and well-being services in Toronto. If you are under 18 and feel overwhelmed or are facing challenges in your life, call or chat with us at 1-866-585-6486. No issue is too big or too small. Our services are free, and we are here to help connect you to the right supports.
Phone Support
Distress Centres of Toronto
Provides 24-hour telephone support to those experiencing emotional distress or in need of crisis intervention and suicide prevention
416-408-HELP (4357)
Gerstein Centre
24-hour crisis services in Toronto and York
416-929-5200
Integrated Community Health Crisis Response Program
24-hour crisis services in Etobicoke and North York
416-498-0043
Kids Help Phone
24-hour, national telephone and online counselling, referral and information services for children, youth and young adults
1-800-668-6868
LGBT Youth Line
Peer support phone line for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, 2-spirited, queer and questioning youth
1-800-268-9688
Scarborough Mobile Crisis Centre
24-hour crisis services in East York and Scarborough
416-495-2891
Helpful Links
http://mindyourmind.ca/ This is a place for youth and emerging adults to access info, resources and tools during tough times. Help yourself. Help each other. Share what you live and know.
http://www.cmha.ca/highschool/studentsH.htm The purpose of this site is to give teens who are having mental health problems some tools to help them get through high school and go on to work or further studies in college or university.
http://www.gethelpearly.ca/home.htm This website is an Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) Youth and Family Education Initiative developed in partnership with the Ontario Working Group on Early Intervention in Psychosis. The site evolved from my family’s wish for centralized access to best-practice, personal, and creative resources relating to psychotic disorders.
http://www.torontoearlypsychosis.com/home.asp Early detection of psychosis greatly increases the chance of successful recovery. This site provides information on psychosis and direction on where to get help in Toronto.
http://www.psychosissucks.ca/epi/ This site promotes early detection, educates about psychosis and provides direction for seeking help.
http://www.kidsmentalhealth.ca Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) represents and supports the providers of child and youth mental health treatment services throughout Ontario.
http://www.ementalhealth.ca/ A family friendly guide to mental health resources.
http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/Pages/OpeningMinds.aspx
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is a catalyst for improving the mental health system and changing the attitudes and behaviours of Canadians around mental health issues. Through its unique mandate from Health Canada, the MHCC brings together leaders and organizations from across the country to accelerate these changes.
http://www.anxietybc.com/ AnxietyBC™ works with experts to increase awareness, promote education and improve access to current, evidence based resources on anxiety. They have many free of charge, self-help, downloadable resources to support management of anxiety for youth and young adults, adults, new mothers, and children.
http://www.anxietybc.com/resources/mindshift-app Struggling with anxiety? Tired of missing out? There are things you can do to stop anxiety and fear from controlling your life. MindShift is an app designed to help teens and young adults cope with anxiety. It can help you change how you think about anxiety. Rather than trying to avoid anxiety, you can make an important shift and face it.
1st Step Early Psychosis Intervention Program Publications
Videos
Beyond Psychosis, CAMH
http://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/health_information/a_z_mental_health_and_addiction_information/schizophrenia/Pages/video_beyond_psychosis.aspx
mindyourmind International Youth Day Mash Up 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_tEgERj6kA&feature=player_embedded
Resource Guides
Attending college or university opens up an exciting world of possibilities. It can also be pretty challenging. But if you’re living with a mental illness, you’ve faced challenges before. This resource is designed to make your transition to college or university just a little bit easier. It takes you through all the steps of going to school, providing information and tips for anyone living with a mental illness.
Everyone has the right to a safe and healthy school environment. This Bulletin provides recommendations for school administration to help create welcoming and supportive schools for trans youth.
The Students Guide To Mental Health And High School
The information in this guide is for all teens struggling with mental health problems, whether or not you’ve got an actual diagnosis. The purpose of this guide is to give youth who are having mental health problems some tools to help them get through high school and go on to work or further studies at college or university.