URGENT SERVICES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Addictions Services
Service Access to Recovery (SAR):
SAR provides service navigation support for mental health and addictions. For many folks, they are a first point of contact within the addictions system. If you are waiting for a call back from us, we highly recommend calling SAR and asking about referrals to addictions support organizations. Call now at 613 241 5202.
AccessMHA provides system navigation for mental health and addictions for all of Eastern Ontario, ages 16+.
Ottawa Withdrawal Management Centre provides community based and residential withdrawal management services/detox supports. 613 241 1525, phone line available 24/7.
Counselling Connect provides brief individual and group therapy opportunities, with fast and accessible self-service online booking. Counselling available in English, French, and Arabic. Sessions often available within one week.
eMentalHealth.ca – Mental Health service directory
The Walk-In Counselling Clinic – Free counselling services on a first come, first served basis.
Le CAP (Centre d’appui et de prévention)offers addiction services, including residential services, for francophone individuals and families in Ontario / 613-789-2240
Crisis Lines
The Distress Centre answers calls 24/7, with crisis line specialists providing confidential, bilingual support. Callers can reach the Centre at 613-238-3311.***NEW*** You can now text and chat with the Distress Centre between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., 7 days a week — text 343-306-5550 or chat.
The Mental Health Crisis Line is bilingual and answers calls for people ages 16 or older 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers can reach the line at 613-722-6914.
Tel-Aide Outaouais offers French-language mental health telephone support from 8 a.m. to midnight every day. Ottawa residents can call 613-741-6433 and Gatineau residents can contact 819-775-3223
The National Overdose Response Service (NORS) is a national peer-based and peer-run telephone overdose prevention service. NORS works by calling 1-888-688-NORS (6677) and getting connected to a peer volunteer who will stay on the line for 15-30 minutes to supervise drug use. During the call, if there is a concern of overdose, such as the client becoming non-responsive, the supervisor will connect with local 911 dispatch services.
Youth Services Bureau (YSB) provides youth and family counselling, crisis support, a 24/7 crisis line at 613-260-2360, walk-in counselling and an online crisis chat service for youth at https://www.ysb.ca/services/ysb-mental-health/24-7-crisis-line/.
Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre: The ORCC supports and empowers trans and cis women, trans men, two-spirit, gender-fluid, and non-binary survivors. The crisis line provides service 7 days a week to survivors of sexual violence, supporters, family and friends of survivors. Reach someone now by calling 613-562-2333.
Fem-Aide (Violence envers les femmes) Fem’aide is a French language service available 24/7 : 1-877-336-2433.
Text & chat support for violence & abuse
Health Care & Harm Reduction
Ottawa Public Health has an online directory that will help you find how to access healthcare, ranging from primary care to walk-in clinics.
Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres — In Ottawa, most neighbourhoods will have a community health and resource centre that provides community members with free medical, nutrition, and/or dental care. To find a nearby centre, visit their directory.
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health provides various medical and mental health supports to all Indigenous folks across Ottawa.
If you are thinking of using alone and are at risk of overdose, there are 4 supervised consumption sites in Ottawa: Somerset West Community Health Centre, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre,“The Trailer”, and Ottawa Public Health.
If you want to begin carrying Naloxone (a drug used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose), visit the City of Ottawa’s information page. There are many locations across Ottawa where you can get your own kit.
Basic Needs & Shelter Services
Ontario 211 – Find programs and services in your community.
Minwaashin Lodge provides a wide variety of programs and services for First Nations, Inuit and Metis women who are survivors of violence, including their emergency shelter. They also have an Outreach Van (STORM) that can be called in crisis.
Action Housing provides a range of housing-related services for low-income and homeless folks, ranging from paralegal services to advocacy in landlord-tenant disputes.
Other Community Resources
Immigrant Women Services Ottawa
Guide to services and programs for older adults
Kind Space – Programs and support for people of all orientations, gender identities, and expressions
The Aids Committee of Ottawa provides support, prevention, education and outreach services from an integrated, anti-racism, anti-oppression social justice framework that promotes the holistic well-being of those living with, affected by, impacted by and at risk of HIV/AIDS in Ottawa
Ottawa Black Mental Health Coalition has created service directory for mental health and substance use programs for ACB folks in Ottawa.