Crisis Resources

If you need help in an emergency or are in crisis:

  • visit your local emergency department or call 911
  • contact a distress centre in Ontario near you (phone numbers provided below)

When in need of someone to talk to. Operated by various agencies. Open 24 hours a day (unless otherwise indicated):

  • Toronto Distress Centres: 416 408-4357 or 408-HELP
  • Gerstein Centre: 416 929-5200
  • Spectra Helpline: 416 920-0497 or 905 459-7777 for Brampton and Mississauga residents
    TTY: 905 278-4890; Languages: English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Spanish, Portuguese
  • Assaulted Women’s Helpline: 416 863-0511; Toll-free: 1 866 863-0511
  • Kids Help Phone: 1 800 668-6868; Languages: English and French
  • Community Crisis Line Scarborough and Rouge Hospital: 416 495-2891 for 24/7 telephone crisis support. 
    Service borders: south to the lake, north to Steeles Avenue, east to Port Union Road, and west to Victoria Park
  • Durham Crisis and Mental Health Line: 905 666-0483
  • Oakville Distress Centre: 905 849-4541 for residents of Halton Region (Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville) 
Hamilton
  • St. Joseph’s Hospital Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST): 905 972-8338
Halton
  • Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST): 1 877 825-9011. Covers: Oakville, Milton, Georgetown, Acton and Burlington. 
Peel Region:
  • Mobile Crisis of Peel: 905 278-9036, 24 hours, 7 days a week (Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon)
  • Credit Valley Hospital; Emergency Department: 905 813-4141. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and statutory holidays, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The mobile crisis team only meets with individuals who are registered in the emergency departments at either Credit Valley Hospital or Mississauga Hospital. Note: Emergency Department is unable to offer medical advice over the phone. Please call Telehealth for medical advice at 1 866 797-0000.
Toronto:
  • Gerstein Centre Crisis Line: 416 929-5200 service borders: south to the lake, north to Eglinton, and then north to Highway 401 (between Bathurst and Bayview), east to Bayview to Danforth and then to Victoria Park, west to Isinglinton Ave.
  • St. Mike’s Hospital Mobile Crisis Team via Police Department (911) accessible through police (no direct number). Response team consists of a police officer and a mental health nurse.
  • St. Joseph’s Hospital Mobile Crisis Team via Police Department (911) accessible through police (no direct number).
Scarborough/East York
  • Scarborough Hospital Regional Mobile Crisis Team via Police Department (911) accessible through police (no direct number).
York Region:
  • Community Crisis Response Service, Distress Centre: Toll Free: 1 855 310-COPE (2673)

 

Naseeha Muslim Youth Helpline

Call toll free- 1-866-627-3342 or visit http://www.naseeha.org/. Modelled after the mainstream Kids Help Phone, operating from the city of Mississauga nightly from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday

NISA

Call toll free 1-888-315-NISA. This is a recent initiative by Mercy Mission, as part of their Women’s Resource Centre. A Muslim Women’s helpline, it is open Monday to Wednesday, from 7-9pm, and Thursday and Friday morning, from 10-12pm. It can be used by anyone in Canada.

 

*These services are provided for information only, without recommendation by Nagham 

Self Help Resources

These are great self help resources that might help you develop coping strategies and help you rewire your thinking. They are based off of leading evidence based therapies. They are not something to use in a time of crisis, or with severe mental health disturbances, nor do they take the place of a trained professionals. But, they are a great resource for some people, and I use many of the handouts and activities in my practice. Some people can go through these books independently with “booster” sessions interspersed along their journey. 

* Please note that these links are affiliate links, however, the books themselves are based on my recommendations 

Nagham Azzam | Nagham Azzam Iqbal