Resources

Emotional Health and Well-Being

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We know that support comes in many forms:  togetherness, community, family, or friends.  While some pregnant and postpartum people and new parents may feel they have a full community of support around them, others may have fewer connections.  Maybe you are new to Toronto or new to Canada.  Either way, this is a time to say “yes” to support!  Reaching out to friends, family and community programs are important ways to take care of yourself.  Below are links to a range of services:  from community based drop-in groups to structured mental health services, throughout the GTA, by neighbourhood, as well as emergency services.

City of Toronto Resources TBC Sept 2018

Referral Services TBC Sept 2018

NeighbourhoodResources TBC Sept 2018

Woodgreen offers walk-in counseling during certain hours that can support you through some of life’s challenges. For more information, visit this link, or call 416-572-3575.

If you or someone you care for is in acute emotional distress, there are phone resources that are dedicated to support and help. You can consider calling or sharing these numbers:

Distress Line (416) 408-HELP (4357)                            www.torontodistresscentre.com

24 hours a day – 7 days a week

Provides confidential 24-hour emotional support, crisis intervention and suicide prevention to persons in distress. There is access to confidential interpreter for 151 languages.

ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600                        www.connexontario.ca

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

ConnexOntario provides treatment service information if you have problems with gambling, drugs, alcohol or mental health. You can call toll free: 1-866-531-2600.

Hope for Wellness Help Line

The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.

It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to offer:

  • counselling
  • crisis intervention

Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca.

When you access the Hope for Wellness Help Line online counselling service you will leave the Government of Canada website and access anonymous counselling services on a website hosted by the same Indigenous service provider that operates the Hope for Wellness Help Line.

Information: https://www.canada.ca/en/indigenous-services-canada/services/first-nations-inuit-health/health-promotion/mental-health-wellness/first-nations-inuit-hope-for-wellness-help-line.html

Mobile Crisis Gerstein Crisis Centre                             www.gersteincentre.org

100 Charles St. East

Toronto, ON M4Y 1V3

Major Intersection: Bloor St. E. / Jarvis St.

(416) 929-5200 (crisis line)

(416) 929-9897 (referral)

Services include:

  • 24 hr Crisis Telephone Line
  • 24 hr Mobile Crisis Service
  • Short Stay Crisis Beds – Contact Gerstein on Bloor, 1045 Bloor St. West, (416) 604-2337
  • Waitlist – none
  • Interpretation: Through translation agencies
  • Hours of service: 24-hr

While rare, there are times when a person who has recently given birth or become a new parent will have debilitating symptoms that require immediate attention. These symptoms usually appear after the birth, within a few days, and in most cases within the first 3 weeks:

  • Severe depression
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Thoughts/fear of harming baby
  • Mania or elevated mood
  • Very agitated
  • Confused
  • Unusual thoughts, problems with reality, paranoia
  • Not sleeping or eating
  • Strange behaviour
  • Seeing or hearing things that are not really there (delusions or hallucinations)

If you notice any of these signs in yourself, in a friend or partner, it may be that seeking  emergency services will best meet your needs.  You may choose to call 911, or go to your nearest hospital emergency department. 

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health does have an emergency department, and you can find out more at this link:

https://www.camh.ca/en/your-care/visiting-camh

Baby Blues and Beyond: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Perinatal Mental Health Issues

Life With a New Baby Is Not Always What You Expect

Postpartum Mood Disorders

Emotional Health During Pregnancy

Evidence Brief: Exploring Interventions to Address Perinatal Mental Health in a Public Health Context

Tear-off for Clinic:  Life With a New Baby Is Not Always What You Expect

Best Practice Guidelines for Mental Health Disorders in the Perinatal Period