Distress Lines:

• National Distress Line: 1-833-456-4566
• Toronto Distress Centre: 416-408-4357 (408-HELP) (or text 45645)
• Distress Centres of Greater Toronto (multilingual): 905-459-7777
• Talk4Healing (help line for Indigenous women): 1-855-554-4325
• Good2Talk (for Ontario post-secondary students): 1-866-925-5454
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741
• Assaulted Women’s Help Line: 416-863-0511
• Toronto Rape Crisis Centre / Multicultural Women Against Rape: 416-597-8808
• Crisis Response (mobile crisis teams):
• Gerstein Crisis Center: 416-929-5200
• Crisis Response Team – North York: 416-498-0043
• Crisis Response Team – York Region: 905-310-2673
• Toronto Community Crisis Service: 211

Peer Support

• Warm Line (Progress Place 8 p.m. to midnight): 416-960-9276
• Mood Disorders Association of Ontario (9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mon to Fri): 1-866-363-6663
• Krasman Centre Warm Line: 1-888-777-9276

General Youth Emergency Services

• Kids Help Phone - Phone: 1-800-668-6868 | Text: 686868
  24/7 support for children and youth across Canada, available in English and French. https://kidshelpphone.ca/
• A service for isolated teens/young adults who are turning to dangerous online communities (ie incel groups) instead of IRL social groups - https://etaontario.ca/ - not an emergency service but a general help group

Black Mental Health Canada (BMHC)
A national non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Black mental health through education, advocacy, research, and community-based programming. BMHC also leads public awareness campaigns and professional learning initiatives focused on dismantling mental health stigma in Black communities. https://blackmentalhealth.ca/

Black Health Alliance (BHA)
A multi-sector partnership working to improve the health and well-being of Black communities in Ontario by addressing systemic barriers, advancing equity-driven policy, and supporting community-informed health initiatives. https://blackhealthalliance.ca/

Black Women in Motion
A nonprofit organization focused on advancing the mental and emotional well-being of Black women through advocacy, community-based programming, education, and systems-level change. https://blackwomeninmotion.org/

BlackMentalHealth.com
A national resource hub offering information, articles, and tools that explore Black mental health, anti-Black racism, and culturally grounded approaches to care and healing. https://blackmentalhealth.com/

TAIBU Community Health Centre (Toronto)
One of Canada’s first community health centres focused on the Black community, providing culturally responsive primary care, mental health services, and health promotion programs. https://taibuchc.ca/en/

Across Boundaries – An Ethnoracial Mental Health Centre (Toronto)
Provides mental health and addiction services grounded in anti-racist, anti-oppressive frameworks, with a long-standing focus on serving Black and racialized communities. https://acrossboundaries.ca/

Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., 7 days a week

Not a crisis line

Support for Black Youth — RiseUp (Kids Help Phone)
A collection of resources and support initiatives designed specifically for Black youth, addressing mental health, racism, identity, and resilience.

https://kidshelpphone.ca/get-info/support-for-%20black-youth-riseup-powered-by-kids-help-phone/

AMANI — TAIBU Community Health Centre

A culturally affirming mental health and substance-use support program designed for Black youth (ages 12–29) and their families/caregivers in the Greater Toronto Area and across Ontario.

AMANI’s Africentric, healing-centered approach is rooted in anti-oppression and anti-racism values, with services tailored to uplift Black youth wellness and resilience.

https://taibuchc.ca/en/amani/

San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Online Training: This program is designed to uproot anti-Indigenous racism and promote cultural safety in service settings across Canada. Grounded in a deep understanding of colonial history and Indigenous rights, the program supports respectful, equitable relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and provides essential tools for individuals and organizations seeking to engage in reconciliation.

Indian Residential School Survivors Society: a provincial organization that provides essential services to residential school survivors and families experiencing intergenerational trauma.

Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre: Providing counselling, material assistance, and essential services to empower the Indigenous community.

Hope For Wellness Helpline: Culturally competent counsellors are available to all Indigenous people across Canada. Telephone and online ‘chat’ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Anishnawbe Health Toronto: Mental health care based on Indigenous culture and traditions.

Beendigen /Talk to Heal: Provides support services to abused women and their families in Thunder Bay. Also hosts provincial crisis line, Talk to Heal.

Older Adult Mental Health and Well-being - Mental Health Commission of Canada: Offers evidence-based tools, research, and initiatives to support the mental health and well-being of older adults, with a focus on aging in place and community-based care. 

Recognizing and Treating Depression in Older Adults | Sixty and Me: A practical, reader-friendly article that helps identify signs of depression in older adults and explores treatment options, including therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. 

Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health: A national organization promoting seniors’ mental health through advocacy, clinical guidelines, and education—especially around substance use, depression, and dementia. 

Phone Pals - Circle of Care: A volunteer-run phone check-in program offering social connection and regular support to isolated older adults, helping reduce loneliness and enhance well-being.