Provincial Mental Health Supports
Mental health is a term that refers to a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It includes the way we think, feels, and behave. It also helps us cope with stress, relate to others, and make choices.
When we talk about mental health, we often think about mental illness. Mental illness is a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, and behavior. It can cause distress and problems in functioning.
Mental illness is common. In fact, In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness. Mental illness can happen to anyone, at any age, and to people of all backgrounds.
Who is affected?
Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group.
39% of Ontario high-school students indicate a moderate-to-serious level of psychological distress (symptoms of anxiety and depression). A further 17% indicate a serious level of psychological distress.
Men have higher rates of substance use disorders than women, while women have higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders.
Mental and physical health are linked. People with a long-term physical health conditions such as chronic pain are much more likely to also experience mood disorders. Conversely, people with a mood disorder are at a much higher risk of developing a long-term medical condition.
People with a mental illness are twice as likely to have a substance use disorder compared to the general population. At least 20% of people with a mental illness have a co-occurring substance use disorder.7 For people with schizophrenia, the number may be as high as 50%.
Similarly, people with substance use disorders are up to 3 times more likely to have a mental illness. More than 15% of people with a substance use disorder have a co-occurring mental illness.
Canadians in the lowest income group are 3 to 4 times more likely than those in the highest income group to report poor to fair mental health.
Studies in various Canadian cities have indicated that between 23% and 67% of homeless people may have a mental illness.
About 4,000 Canadians per year die by suicide – an average of almost 11 suicides a day. It affects people of all ages and backgrounds.
In Ontario, about 4% of adults and 14% of high-school students report having seriously contemplated suicide in the past year. 4% of high-school students report having attempted suicide.
More than 75% of suicides involve men, but women attempt suicide 3 to 4 times more often.
Information Found at https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/the-crisis-is-real/mental-health-statistics
Below are some provincial mental health supports
General Mental Health Tips:
https://ontario.cmha.ca/news/tips-to-manage-mental-health-during-covid-19/
Find your CMHA:
https://cmha.ca/find-your-cmha
BounceBack:
A free, guided self-help program that’s effective in helping people aged 15 and up who are experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression, or may be feeling low, stressed, worried, irritable or angry.
ConnexOntario:
1-866 -531-2600 or www.connexontario.ca
Free and confidential health services information for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental health and/or gambling. Available 24/7.
Canada Suicide Prevention Service:
1-833-456-4566 or www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/
Offers 24/7/365 bilingual support to people in Canada who have concerns about suicide. Phone line available 24/7.
Distress and Crisis Ontario:
Distress Centres (DC’s) across Ontario offer support and a variety of services to their communities. At a DC you can find a listening ear for lonely, depressed, and/or suicidal people, usually 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The website also offers a chat function.
Good2Talk Helpline:
1-866-925-5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868
Ontario’s 24/7 helpline for postsecondary students.
Kids Help Phone:
1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868
Youth mental health support available 24/7.
Children’s Mental Health Ontario Centres:
100 member organizations operating in every region in Ontario, providing treatment and support to children, youth, and families. Free. No referral required.
Hope for Wellness Help Line:
1-855-242-3310
Offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. Phone and chat counselling is available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.
National Indian Residential School Crisis Line:
1-866-925-4419
Offers support to former residential school students and those affected. Available 24 hours.
Talk4healing (for Indigenous women):
1-855-554-4325
LGBT Youthline Ontario:
647-694-4275 + https://www.youthline.ca/ (chat, text and email currently available)
Ontario-wide peer-support for lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirited, queer and questioning young people.
Assaulted Women’s Helpline:
TOLL-FREE: 1-866-863-0511
TOLL FREE TTY: 1-866-863-7868
#SAFE (#7233) on your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus Mobile
24-hour telephone and TTY crisis line for all women in Ontario who have experienced any form of abuse.
Seniors Safety Line:
1-866-299-1011
Provided by Elder Abuse Ontario, the Seniors Safety Line provides contact and referral information for local agencies across the province that can assist in cases of elder abuse.
Ontario Caregiver Helpline:
1-833-416-2273 + live chat also available at https://ontariocaregiver.ca/
Provides caregivers with a one-stop resource for information and support.
Lumino Health:
Information and tools from Lumino Health and mental health partners.