Mental health resources · Six provinces · Checked September 2026
Mental health resources and crisis lines for the provinces we serve
If you are in crisis right now, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7); in an emergency call 911. TEO Counselling is a virtual practice, not a crisis service. Below are the crisis lines, free programs and therapist registers for British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Newfoundland & Labrador — each one checked by us on the date shown.
Last checked: 2 September 2026. Every phone number and link on this page was confirmed against the operator's own website on that date, except the entries added or corrected on 12 September 2026 (poisoning, overdose and medication; naloxone and alcohol and drug lines by province; pregnancy and the first year; early psychosis; OCD, ADHD and sleep; Arabic-language resources), which were confirmed on that later date. The national and provincial lines printed on the province sheets were checked again on 5 October 2026, the day the Text4Amal entry was added. If you find one that has changed, please email admin@teocounselling.com.
Right now (national, 24/7)
These four lines work from anywhere in Canada. Start here if you are not sure which provincial service applies to you.
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
Canada · all ages · 24/7 · English and French · interpreter by phone on request
The national line for anyone thinking about suicide or worried about someone who is. Call or text from anywhere in Canada, any time, in English or French. To speak another language, call and tell the responder as soon as you are connected, and they will tell you what to do next. An interpreter may be available, but not at every moment. When you text, you choose English or French.
Kids Help Phone (for young people)
Youth across Canada · 24/7
For kids, teens and young adults. Phone, text and online support, around the clock. Adults should call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7), or their provincial line, instead.
Hope for Wellness Helpline
Indigenous people across Canada · 24/7
Phone and online chat in English and French, 24 hours a day. Telephone support in Cree, Ojibway (Anishinaabemowin) and Inuktitut is available on request and is not offered 24/7.
211
Every province and territory · 24 hours in most of Canada
Not a crisis line — a navigator that connects you to local mental health, housing, food and financial supports, in more than 150 languages.
Free support in Arabic
Text4Amal (Canadian Arab Institute)
Arab community in Canada · free · daily text messages for three months · not a crisis line
Free supportive text messages in Arabic, daily for three months, from the Canadian Arab Institute. To subscribe, text the word Amal to the number below. Charges from your own phone plan may apply. It is not a crisis line: in a crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7).
Poisoning, overdose and questions about medication
If someone is unconscious, having a seizure or having trouble breathing, call 911. If you think someone has taken too much of a medicine or been exposed to a poison, call the poison centre for your province — each one below answers 24 hours a day. If the overdose was on purpose, or someone is thinking about suicide, also call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7). TEO's clinicians are counsellors, psychotherapists and a social worker, not prescribers, so we cannot advise on medication; ask your pharmacist or prescriber about a medicine you take.
Every entry in this section was checked against the operator's own website on 12 September 2026.
Poison centres (24 hours)
Call the centre for your province. Each one says it answers 24 hours a day.
BC Drug and Poison Information Centre (DPIC)
British Columbia · 24-hour line · public
Call if you think someone has been poisoned by a medicine, chemical or other substance. Telephone interpreting is available in more than 150 languages. If someone is unconscious, having a seizure, having difficulty breathing or chest pain, call 9-1-1 right away.
Ontario Poison Centre
Ontario · 24 hours a day, every day · public and health professionals
Operated by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Call about a poison emergency, including a medicine, or with a question about poisoning. Help is available in any language.
Poison and Drug Information Service (PADIS)
Alberta · 24/7 · free and confidential
Alberta Health Services' line for advice after exposure to poisons, chemicals, medications or herbal products. For general questions about a medicine or herbal product you take, AHS suggests asking your pharmacist or physician. If it is a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Poison Information Centre (Saskatchewan)
Saskatchewan · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week · confidential
Emergency treatment advice for anyone exposed to a poison, including drugs and plants, or to a chemical. Calls are answered by trained poison experts.
Manitoba Poison Centre
Manitoba · 24 hours a day, every day · all ages
Operated by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. A Specialist in Poison Information answers calls about poisonings in more than 170 languages. Advice is given by phone only, not by email.
Atlantic Canada Poison Centre
Newfoundland and Labrador (also Nova Scotia and PEI) · 24 hours, including holidays · public and health professionals
The poison centre for Newfoundland and Labrador, based at the IWK Health Centre. It takes poisoning calls for people of all ages. If the person is unconscious, having a seizure, or having trouble breathing or swallowing, call 911.
Overdose response and naloxone
Free naloxone kit programs for each province we serve are listed under that province below.
National Overdose Response Service (NORS)
Canada · 24/7 · call or text · for people who use drugs · not a substitute for 911
An overdose-prevention line for people who use drugs, so they do not have to use alone. Call or text, and a real person stays connected with you, on average 20 to 35 minutes according to NORS, to check you are not having a bad reaction. You make a safety plan with the operator, which can include someone nearby with naloxone or an ambulance being sent if something goes wrong. NORS says the service is confidential and anonymous and that operators destroy personal information you give them, such as an address shared so an ambulance can be sent. If someone may be overdosing, call 911.
Naloxone (Health Canada)
Canada · information
Health Canada's plain-language page on naloxone: how it works, the types of kits, what to do if you suspect an overdose, and links to where to get a kit in each province and territory. It says take-home naloxone kits are available at most pharmacies without a prescription. Its page on the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act explains that the Act protects people who seek emergency help during an overdose, including the person overdosing and others at the scene, from simple drug possession charges. The Act does not cover outstanding warrants, trafficking or other offences.
Questions about a medicine you take
Reference information and pharmacist services. None of these replaces advice from the prescriber or pharmacist who knows your situation, and TEO cannot advise on medication.
Drug Product Database (Health Canada)
Canada · online database
Health Canada's searchable database of drugs authorized for sale in Canada. You can search by product name, active ingredient or DIN to see whether a product is available in Canada and read its product monograph. This is reference information, not advice about your own treatment. Take questions about your medication to your prescriber or pharmacist.
Report a side effect to Health Canada
Canada · anyone can report · online form or mail
Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program collects reports of suspected side effects from prescription and non-prescription drugs. You can report on your own or with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist, using the online form or by mail. A report is not a way to get care. For questions about a reaction, contact your prescriber or pharmacist. In an emergency, call 911.
5 Questions to Ask About Your Medications (ISMP Canada)
Canada · free printable PDF · many languages, including Arabic
A short list of questions to bring to a doctor, a pharmacist or a hospital team, so you can start a conversation about taking your medications safely, especially when your care changes. It was developed by ISMP Canada with pharmacy and patient-safety organizations, including the Canadian Pharmacists Association. It is a free PDF poster in many languages, including Arabic, Farsi, Punjabi and Urdu.
CAMH: Antidepressant Medications, Information for Patients
Information · plain language
Plain-language information from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health on what antidepressants are used for, how they work, common side effects, and considerations for young people, older adults and during pregnancy. CAMH advises checking with your prescriber or pharmacist before starting a new medication or supplement.
MotherToBaby fact sheets
US-based · fact sheets free online · phone, text and chat for US residents only
A US-based service that publishes free fact sheets on medications and other exposures in pregnancy and breastfeeding, some also in French. Anyone can read them online. Its phone, text and chat service is only for residents of the United States and its territories. The fact sheets are general information and do not replace advice from your own prescriber or pharmacist.
HealthLink BC 8-1-1 — ask for a pharmacist
BC · pharmacists 5 pm–9 am, 7 days a week · nurses and navigators 24/7
Call 8-1-1 and ask to speak with a pharmacist about a medication: expected benefits or side effects, missed doses, non-prescription medications, medication while pregnant or breastfeeding, or how to store or dispose of medication. Pharmacists answer from 5 pm to 9 am, 7 days a week, and navigators and registered nurses answer 24/7. Translation is available in more than 130 languages. In an emergency, call 9-1-1.
BC PharmaCare medication review
BC · 5 or more qualifying medications in the last 6 months · no charge
A one-on-one, in-person review of your medications with a community pharmacist, covered by PharmaCare. You can get one if 5 or more qualifying medications were dispensed to you in the last 6 months and the pharmacist confirms a clinical need. You can have 1 standard review every 6 months and up to 4 follow-ups within 12 months. Ask at your pharmacy.
MedsCheck (Ontario)
Ontario · 3 or more prescription medications for a chronic condition, or diabetes · free · once a year
A free appointment with your pharmacist, once a year, to go over the medications you take, how they work together and possible side effects. It is for people who take three or more prescription medications for an ongoing, chronic condition, or who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Residents of long-term care homes also qualify. Bring your medications or a list of them, including non-prescription products, and your OHIP card. If you cannot get to a pharmacy, ask about MedsCheck at Home.
medSask: medication questions answered by pharmacists
People living in Saskatchewan · Mon–Fri 9 am–midnight · weekends and holidays 5 pm–midnight
A prescription and medication information service from the University of Saskatchewan. A pharmacist answers your questions. It only takes questions from people living in Saskatchewan. It is not an emergency service. For a medical emergency call 911. For suicide crisis support, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7).
Alcohol and drug use
Provincial alcohol, drug and opioid lines are listed under each province below. Mutual-support meetings are not treatment and not crisis services.
Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health (CCSA)
Canada · national guidance, 2023
The national guidance on alcohol from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. It describes risk as a scale: 1–2 standard drinks a week is low risk and 3–6 is moderate. At 7 or more, it says the risk of heart disease or stroke increases significantly. It says more than 2 standard drinks on one occasion is linked to more harm, and that there is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant. If you have questions about your own drinking, a family doctor, nurse or pharmacist can help.
Get help with substance use (Health Canada)
Canada · Government of Canada directory, by province and territory
The federal government's list of substance use helplines and services across Canada and in each province and territory. It also covers harm reduction and overdose prevention, quit-smoking services and programs for Indigenous peoples. Services change, so check with the service itself before relying on a listing.
SMART Recovery Canada
Canada · online and in person · free · mutual support, not treatment
Free mutual-support meetings for people who want to change their substance use or other addictive behaviours. Trained facilitators lead the meetings and most are drop-in. There are also Family & Friends meetings for people affected by someone else's behaviour. You do not need a referral or a diagnosis. SMART Recovery says its meetings are mutual support, not a crisis service and not a replacement for professional care.
Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
U.S.-based website (A.A. General Service Office) · meetings across Canada · free · peer mutual support
Free peer mutual-support meetings, open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking. A.A.'s website is run from the United States. Its meeting finder lists A.A. contacts for each Canadian province and territory. The Meeting Guide app finds nearby meetings, and online meetings are listed through the Online Intergroup of A.A.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) — Canadian Assembly
Canada · free · peer mutual support
Free peer-support meetings, in person and online, for people who want to stop using drugs. NA has no dues or fees. The Canadian Assembly, a national committee of NA's regions in Canada, runs a meeting search and a national phone line. NA does not publish hours for the phone line.
By province
TEO Counselling sees clients online in six provinces. Each block below lists the province's own crisis lines, a free or low-cost option where we could verify one, and the page for online therapy with TEO in that province. In every province, 9-8-8 works alongside the local line.
Jump to: British Columbia · Ontario · Alberta · Saskatchewan · Manitoba · Newfoundland & Labrador. Each province also has a one-page printable sheet of its lines, free to print and post.
British Columbia
Crisis lines
Crisis Centre BC — 1-800-SUICIDE
BC · 24/7
Province-wide crisis support by phone, any hour.
BC Mental Health & Crisis Response line
BC · 24/7
For a mental health crisis in BC. No area code needed. For thoughts of suicide, the Crisis Centre's own page points you to 9-8-8 (call or text).
Vancouver Island Crisis Line
Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Powell River–Rivers Inlet · 24/7
The local line for Nanaimo and the rest of the Island. Phone only — the operator's text and chat services are no longer offered.
VictimLinkBC
BC · victims of crime, including family and sexual violence · 24/7
Immediate crisis support and referrals for anyone affected by family or sexual violence, in up to 150 languages. Call or text.
Free or low-cost help
HelpStartsHere
BC service finder
The provincial government's searchable directory of more than 2,600 mental health and substance use services in BC.
BounceBack (CMHA)
BC · adults and youth 13+ · free
A free CBT-based skill-building program for low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety and stress. Its online and video platforms are open as soon as you sign up. Phone coaching has further eligibility criteria and needs a referral form, which you can complete yourself if you have a regular primary care provider — CMHA BC counts a nurse practitioner, psychiatrist, psychologist, registered clinical counsellor, registered social worker or school counsellor as well as a family doctor.
BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
BC government
Provincial information on mental health and substance use services and how to reach them.
HealthLink BC 8-1-1
BC · navigators and registered nurses 24/7 · interpreters in more than 130 languages · not a crisis line
British Columbia's health information and advice line. When you dial 8-1-1 you reach an English-speaking health service navigator. Say the name of the language you need and an interpreter joins the call. Navigators and registered nurses answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Pharmacists answer 5 pm to 9 am every day, and dietitians 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. In an emergency call 9-1-1. If you are thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7).
Take Home Naloxone program (BCCDC / Toward the Heart)
BC · free naloxone kits
The BC Centre for Disease Control's program gives free naloxone kits to people at risk of an opioid overdose and to people likely to witness and respond to one, such as family and friends. BCCDC does not hand out kits to individuals; you pick one up at a participating site, such as a community pharmacy, found through the Site Finder. The program offers injectable and nasal kits. The Site Finder does not show whether kits are in stock, so contact the site first.
Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service (ADIRS)
BC · Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm · free and confidential · information and referral, not a crisis or clinical service
Free, confidential information and referral in several languages, run by United Way BC. It covers detox, counselling, treatment programs, recovery homes, support groups, harm reduction and fetal alcohol and drug effects in British Columbia. Phone help is available Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. It is not a clinical service. In a crisis, call 1-800-784-2433 or call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7).
Print this province's lines (PDF) · one page, numbers checked 5 October 2026
Online therapy with TEO in British Columbia → Therapy in British Columbia
Ontario
Crisis lines
ConnexOntario
Ontario · 24/7 · free · interpretation by phone
Free, confidential help finding mental health, addiction and gambling services anywhere in Ontario, 24/7, 365 days a year. For another language, call, say which language you need, and a translator joins a three-way call. ConnexOntario says it can serve callers in more than 130 languages this way.
Distress Centres of Greater Toronto
Greater Toronto Area
Crisis and distress line for the GTA.
Good2Talk
Post-secondary students in Ontario · 24/7
Free, confidential support for college and university students in Ontario (and Nova Scotia).
Free or low-cost help
Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP)
Ontario adults 18+ · free, publicly funded CBT
Free, publicly funded cognitive-behavioural therapy for adults 18 and older with symptoms related to depression or an anxiety-related disorder, delivered through ten regional networks. It is not suitable for everyone. Ask your doctor or health care team about a referral, or self-refer through the network for your area.
Health811
Ontario · registered nurses · 24/7 · free
Call 811, day or night, to talk to a registered nurse about a health question. You can also send an instant message to a nurse online. The service is free and confidential. TTY: 711.
Free naloxone kits in Ontario
Ontario · free kits · no prescription or health card needed
Free naloxone kits for people at risk of an opioid overdose, for family, friends and others in a position to help, and for people being released from a correctional facility. You do not need a prescription or an Ontario health card. Participating pharmacies give out free injectable and nasal spray kits, but not all pharmacies carry them, so call ahead. Kits are also available from public health units, Community Health Centres, shelters, withdrawal management programs and hospitals with an emergency department or urgent care centre. The province's map shows the nearest site.
Print this province's lines (PDF) · one page, numbers checked 5 October 2026
Online therapy with TEO in Ontario → Therapy in Ontario
Alberta
Crisis lines
Alberta Mental Health Help Line (AHS)
Alberta · 24/7
Alberta Health Services' province-wide line for mental health support, information and referrals.
Alberta Addiction Helpline (AHS)
Alberta · 24/7
Support and information for addiction and substance use, any hour.
Distress Centre Calgary
Calgary and southern Alberta · 24/7
24-hour crisis line by phone, text or chat.
Distress Line — CMHA Edmonton
Edmonton region · 24/7
CMHA Edmonton's crisis line, answered by trained responders 24 hours a day, for anyone in crisis, feeling overwhelmed or struggling with a difficult situation.
Free or low-cost help
211 Alberta
Alberta community services
Find local counselling, support groups and community programs across Alberta.
Health Link 811
Alberta · 24/7 phone line · free
A free telephone service for health advice and information for Albertans, 24/7. Depending on your concern, you may speak with a registered nurse, a practical nurse, a mental health therapist or another clinician.
Get Naloxone (Alberta Health Services)
Alberta · free kits · anonymous
Alberta Health Services says anyone can pick up a free naloxone kit, anonymously, at sites across Alberta, and training is available wherever kits are given out. Use the map on the page to find a site, and phone ahead to check its hours and that it has kits.
Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (Recovery Alberta)
Alberta · 7 days a week, 8 am–8 pm · not a crisis line
Recovery Alberta's virtual treatment program for people with opioid use disorder, anywhere in Alberta. The care team includes physicians, nurses, addictions counsellors, social workers and pharmacists. The program also has information for people who have no drug coverage. Questions about treatment or medication are for the program's own clinicians.
Print this province's lines (PDF) · one page, numbers checked 5 October 2026
Online therapy with TEO in Alberta → Therapy in Alberta
Saskatchewan
Crisis lines
HealthLine 811
Saskatchewan · 24/7
Saskatchewan's health line also provides mental health and addictions crisis support, staffed by registered psychiatric nurses and social workers. If 811 does not connect, call 1-877-800-0002.
Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service
Saskatoon and area · 24/7
Crisis line and mobile crisis response, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Mobile Crisis Services Regina
Regina · 24/7
24/7 help lines for crisis and suicide support in Regina.
Free or low-cost help
Farm Stress Line
Saskatchewan producers, farm families and employees · 24/7
Confidential 24/7 access to crisis line counsellors trained in agriculture, operated by SaskAgMatters.
Take Home Naloxone Program (Saskatchewan)
Saskatchewan residents · free kits and training
Saskatchewan residents at risk of an opioid overdose, or who might witness one, such as friends and family of people who use opioids, can get free training and a free take-home naloxone kit. Sites are run by the Saskatchewan Health Authority and partner community organizations, pharmacies and clinics, and kits are also available at all emergency departments in the province. Some staff travel between communities, so phone ahead if a site lists no hours. If you suspect an overdose, call 911.
Print this province's lines (PDF) · one page, numbers checked 5 October 2026
Online therapy with TEO in Saskatchewan → Therapy in Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Crisis lines
Klinic Crisis Line
Manitoba · 24/7
Province-wide crisis support by phone, any hour.
Manitoba Suicide Prevention & Support Line
Manitoba · 24/7
For anyone in Manitoba thinking about suicide or worried about someone else.
Free or low-cost help
Manitoba Farm, Rural & Northern Support Services
Anyone on a Manitoba farm or in a rural or northern community · free
Free, confidential and anonymous telephone counselling for rural, farm and northern Manitobans.
Health Links – Info Santé
Manitoba · registered nurses · 24/7
Manitoba's health information line, staffed by registered nurses who assess your concern and advise where to go, for example a virtual physician or nurse practitioner, a clinic, an emergency department, or care at home. Interpreters are available in more than 200 languages.
Take-Home Naloxone Distribution Program (Manitoba)
Manitoba · free kits
Free take-home naloxone kits for people at risk of an opioid overdose and for family or friends who may witness one. Use the province's Naloxone Finder map to find a site. The provincial kits contain injectable naloxone.
Manitoba Addictions Helpline
Manitoba · Mon–Fri 8:30 am–4:30 pm · free and confidential
Free, confidential help finding alcohol, drug and gambling services in Manitoba, by phone, by email or in person at River Point Centre, on weekdays. It is not a 24-hour line. After hours, call the Klinic Crisis Line (204-786-8686 · 1-888-322-3019) or call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7).
Print this province's lines (PDF) · one page, numbers checked 5 October 2026
Online therapy with TEO in Manitoba → Therapy in Manitoba
Newfoundland & Labrador
Crisis lines
811 HealthLine — mental health and addictions crisis
NL · 24/7
Since May 2022 the provincial mental health crisis line has been provided through 811. Dial 811 day or night to speak with a registered nurse trained as a crisis intervener. Some agencies still publish the older number, 1-888-737-4668.
Free or low-cost help
Bridge the gapp
NL online resource and service directory
NL Health Services' online mental health resource, including a directory of programs and walk-in counselling options across the province.
Mental Health & Addictions Systems Navigator
NL
Help finding your way through the province's mental health and addictions services.
Provincial Lifewise Warm Line
NL · support line, not a crisis line · 10 am–midnight daily
A non-crisis line answered by trained Lifewise staff, for when you want to talk to someone outside of a crisis. It is open 10 am to midnight every day. In a crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7), or dial 811.
Take Home Naloxone Kits (Newfoundland and Labrador)
NL · free kits and instruction
Free naloxone kits and instruction for anyone at risk of an opioid overdose or who might witness one. To find a site, call 811 and a HealthLine nurse will give you a contact number and location, or use the province's list of distribution sites by region. If you think someone is having an overdose, call 911 right away.
Opioid Dependence Treatment (ODT) line
NL · Mon–Fri 8:30 am–4:30 pm · not a crisis line
The province's toll-free Opioid Dependence Treatment line helps people find their way through the system and connect with support and services. It is for people seeking support for their opioid use, for family members and for health-care providers, and it accepts Video Relay Service calls. It is open weekdays only. Regional treatment hubs are listed on the same page. If someone may be overdosing, call 911.
Print this province's lines (PDF) · one page, numbers checked 5 October 2026
Online therapy with TEO in Newfoundland & Labrador → Therapy in Newfoundland & Labrador
Specific communities and needs
Some supports are built for a particular community or a particular need, such as pregnancy and the first year, early psychosis, OCD, ADHD or sleep. These services are run by other organizations, not by TEO. The hours matter — not every line here is 24/7, and we say so where it is not.
Trans and gender-diverse people
Trans Lifeline
Canada · peer support by and for trans people · Mon–Fri 10 am–6 pm Pacific
A peer-support line run by trans people. It is not a 24/7 service — outside those hours, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7), or your provincial line.
Muslim youth and adults
Naseeha Mental Health helpline
Canada · 24/7 · free · peer support, not therapy · English, French, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali and Gujarati
A free, anonymous peer-support line staffed by trained peer-support counsellors, open to Muslim youth and adults and to anyone who wants a faith-aware listener. It is peer support rather than therapy, and you can ask for a male or female counsellor. Language availability follows the volunteer schedule; in an emergency, call 911.
Therapy for Muslim clients at TEO, online in six provinces → /muslim-therapist
Arabic-speaking communities and newcomers
Arab Community Centre of Toronto (ACCT)
Toronto · newcomers of all backgrounds · free
Founded in 1973 to help Arab Canadians, ACCT now works with newcomers of all backgrounds across Toronto. Its free mental health and well-being services for newcomers include assessment and referral, case management, one-on-one counselling, support groups and workshops. Its website says services are available in English and French and does not name Arabic.
Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services
Toronto · immigrants and refugees
Free programs, counselling and interpretation services for immigrants and refugees of all ages living in the City of Toronto.
MOSAIC
BC newcomers
Settlement, employment and counselling services for immigrants and refugees in British Columbia.
Immigrant Services Society of BC
BC newcomers
Settlement and community support for newcomers to BC, including mental health programs.
Kids Help Phone in other languages, including Arabic (for young people)
Youth across Canada · free · phone line 24/7 · interpretation by phone
For kids, teens and young adults. Call and press 4 to talk with a professional counsellor through a trained interpreter. Kids Help Phone names Arabic among the languages offered and says it covers more than 100. Its page describes interpretation for phone calls only, not text. Adults should call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7), or their provincial line, instead.
HeretoHelp: mental health information in Arabic
Free Arabic PDFs, with audio for the booklets · BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Use Information (CMHA BC)
Free Arabic translations: five fact sheets on coping with a mental health crisis, managing anxiety at home, and depression; ten wellness modules, including stress, sleep, anger, healthy thinking and mindfulness; and four plain-language booklets on depression, grief, anxiety and good mental health, each with an Arabic audio version. The materials are written for British Columbia and list BC phone lines. The two we opened do not mention 9-8-8. For crisis support, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7).
HealthLinkBC Files in Arabic
BC health fact sheets · Arabic translations · list of translated titles
Short health fact sheets from HealthLink BC, translated into Arabic. Titles include naloxone for opioid overdose, harm reduction for people who use substances and for their families, quitting smoking and vaping, and your child's feelings. Most titles cover general health and immunization rather than mental health.
Therapy in Arabic at TEO with Mohamad Shabib → /arabic-speaking-therapist
Farmers and rural communities
Farmer Wellness Initiative
Ontario farmers, farm families and farm employees · 24/7 · free
Free, unlimited counselling by phone in English, French and Spanish, any hour.
Farm Stress Line
Saskatchewan · 24/7
Crisis line counsellors trained in agriculture, for producers, families and employees.
Manitoba Farm, Rural & Northern Support Services
Manitoba · free
Free, confidential telephone counselling for anyone on a Manitoba farm or in a rural or northern community.
First responders
BC First Responders' Mental Health
BC first responders and their families
Information and resources for BC first responders. It also lists the WorkSafeBC Crisis Support Line, 1-800-624-2928, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Therapy for first responders at TEO → /first-responder-therapy
Victims of violence
VictimLinkBC
BC · 24/7 · up to 150 languages
Immediate crisis support for victims of family and sexual violence in BC. In the other provinces we serve, dial 2-1-1 for the victim-services program nearest you.
CMHA — find your local branch
Canada · programs, not a crisis line
The Canadian Mental Health Association's branch finder for community mental health programs in every province we serve.
Pregnancy, birth and the first year
Pacific Post Partum Support Society
BC · peer support, not a crisis line · phone Mon–Fri 10 am–3 pm Pacific · text Mon–Fri 10:30 am–2:30 pm Pacific · closed statutory holidays
Support by phone and text from parents who have been through it, for anyone who is pregnant or parenting a child under three, and for the people supporting them. No referral is needed. Messages are returned within one business day. It is not a crisis line. In a crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7).
Provincial Reproductive Mental Health Outpatient Clinic (BC Women's Hospital)
BC · referral required · before, during and up to eight months after pregnancy or birth
BC Women's Hospital's clinic for mental health concerns before, during and up to eight months after pregnancy or birth. It is in person in Vancouver, or online if you are physically in BC at the time of the appointment. You need a referral from a health care provider such as your doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife. The clinic's page also has self-care guides and information about medication in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Questions about your own medication belong with your prescriber.
Postpartum Matters (Women's College Hospital)
Ontario residents with a baby under one year at home · free · online group
A free eight-week online group for people having a hard time with mood or adjustment after having a baby. It is run by Women's College Hospital's Reproductive Life Stages Program and led by its therapists. It uses a private online discussion board rather than live video sessions, so you can take part on your own schedule. You register yourself, and a therapist phones you within 3–4 weeks for a short assessment. There are also groups for Black parents and for young parents. It is for Ontario residents with at least one baby under one year at home. It is not for people who are currently pregnant, and you need a computer.
Reproductive Life Stages Program (Women's College Hospital)
Toronto hospital program · adults 18+ · referral required
Assessment and short-term treatment for mental health concerns during pregnancy, up to one year after birth, the menstrual cycle and perimenopause. You need a referral. For pregnancy and postpartum care, a physician, nurse practitioner or midwife can refer you. The program does not take pregnancy or postpartum referrals from people who delivered at a hospital that has its own perinatal mental health program.
Health811 — breastfeeding support (Ontario)
Ontario · 24/7
Call 811 or use Health811 online to reach a registered nurse with breastfeeding questions at any hour. Depending on your situation, the nurse may refer you to a lactation consultant, who calls you back within 30 minutes of the referral.
Alberta Health Services — Postpartum depression
Alberta · information, with services listed for each of the five health zones
Alberta Health Services' page on postpartum depression and anxiety, with mental health and postpartum support services listed for each health zone. For help finding one, call Health Link at 8-1-1 (24/7) or the Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642 (24/7).
Lifewise Perinatal Peer Support Program
NL · peer support · free · online and by phone across the province, in person in the metro area · no referral needed
Free support groups, workshops and one-on-one support for new and expecting parents, from trained peer supporters with lived experience. No diagnosis or referral is needed. Book one-on-one support through the online form or the Perinatal Message Line. Group times are on the Lifewise perinatal calendar. The Lifewise Warm Line is open 10 am to midnight daily. Neither line is a crisis line. In a crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7).
PSI Canada (Postpartum Support International)
Canadian volunteers of a US-based non-profit · peer support, not a crisis service · free online groups
The Canadian branch of Postpartum Support International, a US-based non-profit focused on mental health in pregnancy and after birth. Fill in PSI Canada's online intake form and a volunteer will contact you, usually within 1–2 business days, to help you find perinatal mental health care or a peer support group near you. PSI also runs free online support groups led by trained peer facilitators. It is not a crisis service. In a crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7).
CAMH — Postpartum depression
Information · plain language
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's plain-language guide to postpartum depression. It covers how it differs from the baby blues, signs and symptoms, causes, treatment options and common questions.
BC Women's Hospital — Postpartum mood
Information · BC
BC Women's Hospital's information on the baby blues, postpartum depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress and psychological birth trauma, with self-care ideas and where to find support.
Postpartum Care (postpartumcare.ca)
BC-focused information site
An information site for new parents with symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety, covering causes, diagnosis, treatment options, self-care and BC supports. It was developed by the Women's Health Research Institute with BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre, BC Women's Health Foundation and the University of British Columbia.
Early psychosis intervention programs
EPION — find an early psychosis intervention program in Ontario
Ontario · program directory · not a crisis line
EPION (the Early Psychosis Intervention Ontario Network) is a non-profit network of more than 50 early psychosis intervention programs across Ontario. Its map lets you search by postal code or address, or view the full list of programs. You or your doctor can call your local program to ask about its referral process. If someone is at immediate risk, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7) or call 911.
BC Early Psychosis Intervention (earlypsychosis.ca)
British Columbia · information site · regional programs · not a crisis line
Information on early psychosis from the BC Early Psychosis Intervention Program. The site names the five regional health authorities that run programs: Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, Northern Health, Island Health and Interior Health. The site says you do not need a referral from a professional: you can call your local program directly about yourself or about someone else. Check your health authority's page for ages and contact details. If someone is at immediate risk, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7) or call 911.
Early Psychosis Intervention Program, Foothills Medical Centre (Alberta Health Services, Calgary)
Calgary and area · ages 15–35 · early or first-episode psychosis · not a crisis line
An Alberta Health Services program at Foothills Medical Centre for people aged 15 to 35 with early or first-episode psychosis, with support and education for families. You can refer yourself by calling Access Mental Health, a non-urgent phone line for people in Calgary and the surrounding area, open Monday to Friday, 8 am–4:30 pm. In Edmonton, the Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic (ages 16–35) needs a referral from a health care provider. For urgent help, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7) or call 911.
Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Service (EPPIS), Shared Health
Winnipeg region only · separate intake for under 18 and ages 18–35 · early psychosis · not a crisis line
A Shared Health service for people living in the Winnipeg region who have symptoms of psychosis and have not been treated for a diagnosed psychotic disorder for longer than three months. Anyone can make a referral. For ages 18–35, call the EPPIS service at the Community Mental Health Program. For under 18, call the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Program. Hours are not listed. It is not province-wide: outside the Winnipeg region, use the crisis lines listed for Manitoba. In a crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7) or call 911.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
CAMH — Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Information · plain language · free
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's public page on OCD: what obsessions and compulsions are, possible causes, and how OCD is assessed and treated. It links to a free downloadable information guide for people with OCD and their families (2016).
HeretoHelp — Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders
Information · written for BC, useful anywhere · free
Info sheets on OCD and related conditions from HeretoHelp, including sheets about OCD and body-focused repetitive behaviours in young people. HeretoHelp is a project of the BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Use Information.
Hope + Me — OCD Peer Support Group
Toronto-based organization · peer support, not therapy · online (Zoom) · free
A free online peer support group for anyone who has challenges with OCD, run by Hope + Me – Mood Disorders Association of Ontario. Its groups are facilitated by trained support specialists with lived experience. It meets on the first and third Thursday of each month, 7:00–8:50 pm; the page does not give a time zone (the organization is based in Toronto). Registration is required. The operator says that for emergency or crisis help, go to your local emergency department or call 911.
OCD Ottawa — online support group
Canada-wide · peer support, not therapy · online (Zoom) · adults with OCD
A volunteer, peer-led support group for adults living with OCD that started in Ottawa and now accepts participants from across Canada. Volunteers who live with OCD co-facilitate. It meets on Zoom every two weeks on Wednesdays, 7–9 pm (the site does not give a time zone). Email the group to find out how to join; the site does not state a cost.
Frederick W. Thompson Anxiety Disorders Centre (Sunnybrook, Toronto)
Toronto hospital program · adults · referral form required
A hospital centre offering psychiatric consultation and group therapy for OCD and related disorders, plus an intensive live-in and day treatment program for OCD. Referral forms are on its referral page (the intensive program uses a physician referral form); the site does not describe self-referral. Mild-to-moderate OCD consultation and groups are limited to a Toronto catchment area, related-disorders services take referrals from across Ontario, and the intensive program is open to adults from across Canada. Its patient education page has a free OCD handbook for patients and families and recorded public forums.
Scrupulosity and waswas (religious OCD): our article for Muslim and Christian readers → /blog/scrupulosity-religious-ocd
Adults with ADHD
CADDAC — Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada
Canada · national registered charity · information and free online peer support groups
Information about ADHD at every age, including adults. CADDAC runs free monthly peer support groups on Zoom for adults affected by ADHD (personally or as a parent or caregiver), led by trained facilitators who are adults with ADHD; register in advance. Adult groups meet on the first Monday (3:30 pm Pacific / 6:30 pm Eastern), third Wednesday (6:30 pm Pacific / 9:30 pm Eastern) and fourth Thursday (4:00 pm Pacific / 7:00 pm Eastern) of each month, with no groups in December. It also runs a women's group, an ADHD and substance use group, and a youth group for ages 16–24. Some programs, such as adult group coaching, are paid. Its Resource Navigator answers questions about getting an ADHD assessment.
HeretoHelp — ADHD in adults
Information · written for BC, useful anywhere · free · 2018
An info sheet from the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division, on how ADHD can show up in adults, practical self-care strategies, and when to talk to your doctor about an assessment.
Sleep problems
Sleepwell (Dalhousie University)
Canada · English and French · self-help information on insomnia · not a health care provider
A research and knowledge-mobilization program led by Drs. David Gardner and Andrea Murphy at Dalhousie University. It explains cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and offers a downloadable sleep diary, a sleep efficiency calculator and free one-page handouts; printed booklets cost $5 each plus shipping. Sleepwell says it is a website, not a health care provider. If you take sleeping pills, its own guide says to plan any change with your doctor and pharmacist.
HeretoHelp — Getting a good night's sleep (Wellness Module 6)
Self-help module · free · 2019
A free self-help module from CMHA BC and Anxiety Canada on sleep skills, with a diary for tracking which skills you use each week. It advises talking to your doctor or a mental health professional if sleep problems continue.
Canadian Deprescribing Network — Sleep well without medication
Canada · public medication information · free · educational, not individual advice
Public information from the Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network (clinicians, educators, researchers, policymakers and people with lived experience) about sleeping pills and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, with downloadable brochures. The site says its content is for education only and to consult your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before stopping or changing any medication.
Family and friends of someone who drinks
Al-Anon and Alateen
Family and friends of someone who drinks · Alateen for teens · peer mutual support · U.S.-based website with a Canadian office
Peer mutual-support groups for people whose lives have been affected by someone else's drinking, including partners, parents, children, siblings, grandchildren and friends. Alateen is for young people, teens affected by someone else's drinking. Meetings run in person, online and by telephone. Al-Anon's website is run from the United States, and there is a Canadian office in Ottawa. Hours for the office phone line are not published.
Learn about the approaches we use
Independent sources on the methods our clinicians are trained in, alongside our own explainers: EMDR, Internal Family Systems, the Gottman Method for couples, and trauma therapy more broadly.
CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)
A Toronto mental health and addiction teaching hospital, with plain-language information on mental health conditions and treatments.
HeretoHelp
Mental health and substance use information from the BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Use Information.
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
Information on EMDR therapy and a directory to find EMDR-trained therapists.
IFS Institute
The home of Internal Family Systems therapy — what the model is, and how practitioners are trained.
The Gottman Institute
Research-based resources on relationships, communication and couples therapy.
PTSD Association of Canada
A London, Ontario non-profit with information and support for people affected by PTSD.
Check a therapist's registration
Letters after a name mean something only if you can look them up. Each list below is run by the body that grants the credential, and each is free to search. The CRPO, OCSWSSW and ACSW are regulators, and their public registers show whether a registration is current. The BCACC and CCPA are professional associations, not regulators; their directories list people who hold their designations. At TEO: Mohamad Shabib is a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC, CCPA); Alison Shaji is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC, BCACC) and works with BC clients only; Rola Shbib is a Registered Social Worker, RSW (Ontario), with the OCSWSSW.
For what those designations mean in practice, read what a Registered Psychotherapist is in Ontario and why therapist credentials matter in BC.
CRPO Public Register
Ontario · regulator · Registered Psychotherapist / RP (Qualifying)
The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Search a name to confirm the registration category and whether it is current. Mohamad Shabib appears here as a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).
OCSWSSW Online Register
Ontario · regulator · Registered Social Worker (RSW)
The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Rola Shbib, RSW (Ontario), is registered here.
BCACC — find a Registered Clinical Counsellor
BC · RCC · professional association, not a regulator
Search the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors' directory of RCCs. Alison Shaji is an RCC and sees BC clients only.
CCPA — find a Canadian Certified Counsellor
Canada-wide · CCC · professional association, not a regulator
Search the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association's national directory of Canadian Certified Counsellors. Mohamad Shabib holds the CCC designation.
ACSW public register
Alberta · regulator · RSW
The Alberta College of Social Workers' public register for checking an Alberta social worker.
Directories are not registers
Psychology Today (Canada)
Directory, not a register
A searchable directory of therapists across Canada. A directory listing is not proof of registration — check the regulator's register or the association's directory above.
Book guides
Guides to well-known books on trauma, relationships, parents, addiction, grief, meaning and the mind: what each book argues, what the research supports or questions, and who it may suit. They are commentary, not a substitute for the book itself, and not a substitute for care.
Grouped by subject: books on mental health indexes all of them, and shorter lists cover grief, relationships, anxiety, books for men, boundaries and DBT workbooks.
The Body Keeps the Score
Bessel van der Kolk (2014)
What Bessel van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score argues about trauma, memory and the body, which treatments it covers, what the research supports, and what critics dispute.
Read the guide →Man's Search for Meaning
Viktor E. Frankl (1946)
Viktor Frankl's classic, explained: the camps he was held in, his ideas about meaning and attitude, what research says about logotherapy, and the criticisms historians and scholars have raised, worth knowing before you read it.
Read the guide →No Bad Parts
Richard C. Schwartz (2021)
What No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz says about parts, protectors, exiles and the Self, what the research on IFS does and does not show, and when to read it with a therapist's support.
Read the guide →Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
Pete Walker (2013)
A critical look at Pete Walker's book on childhood trauma: a few of its main ideas in brief, what the research says, how it differs from the formal diagnosis, and who may want support while reading.
Read the guide →Meditations
Marcus Aurelius (c. 170–180 CE)
Who Marcus Aurelius was, what his private notes say about judgement, control, difficult people and death, the documented link between Stoicism and CBT, and fair critiques of the book.
Read the guide →Getting Past Your Past
Francine Shapiro (2012)
Francine Shapiro's self-help book on how unprocessed memories can shape present reactions: its key ideas, how it differs from EMDR therapy, what guidelines say, and its limits.
Read the guide →The Power of Now
Eckhart Tolle (1997)
A therapist's commentary on Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now: its ideas about thought, presence, the pain-body and acceptance, what research supports, the critiques, and who may want support while reading it.
Read the guide →Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
Lindsay C. Gibson (2015)
A therapist's commentary on Lindsay Gibson's Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: the four parent types, emotional loneliness, research on emotional neglect, the critiques, and who may want support while reading.
Read the guide →Attached
Amir Levine & Rachel Heller (2010)
A therapist's commentary on Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller: the anxious, avoidant and secure styles, protest behaviours and the anxious-avoidant trap, what research supports and disputes, and who may want support while reading.
Read the guide →The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work
John Gottman & Nan Silver (1999)
A therapist's commentary on The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman and Nan Silver: the seven principles, the research and its critiques, which Gottman book to read first, and when to get support.
Read the guide →Mind Over Mood
Dennis Greenberger & Christine Padesky (1995)
What Mind Over Mood by Dennis Greenberger and Christine Padesky teaches about thoughts, moods and behaviour, what research on CBT self-help does and does not show, and when to use it with support.
Read the guide →Why Does He Do That?
Lundy Bancroft (2002)
A commentary on Lundy Bancroft's Why Does He Do That?: abuse as entitlement and control, what he says about change and joint counselling, the critiques, and where to find help in Canada.
Read the guide →Dopamine Nation
Anna Lembke (2021)
A therapist's commentary on Anna Lembke's Dopamine Nation: the pleasure-pain balance, her four-week abstinence breaks, self-binding and radical honesty, what dopamine science supports, the critiques, and when to read it with support.
Read the guide →No More Mr. Nice Guy
Robert A. Glover (2000)
A therapist's critical commentary on Robert Glover's No More Mr. Nice Guy: covert contracts, approval-seeking and shame, the missing evidence, the red-pill question, and who may want support while reading.
Read the guide →Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Lori Gottlieb (2019)
A therapist's commentary on Lori Gottlieb's memoir Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: whether its stories are true, its ideas about pain, suffering and change, what research says about the therapy relationship, and the critiques.
Read the guide →In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
Gabor Maté (2008)
A therapist's commentary on Gabor Maté's In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: addiction as an attempt to relieve pain, the hungry ghost image, what trauma and genetics research shows, the critiques, and who may want support while reading.
Read the guide →A Grief Observed
C. S. Lewis (1961)
A therapist's commentary on C. S. Lewis's A Grief Observed: the notebooks he kept after Joy Davidman's death, grief that feels like fear, anger at God, what research says, and who may want support while reading it.
Read the guide →Free tools from TEO
Printable worksheets, journals and handouts written by our clinicians — free to download, print and share with clients. No email address required. Each tool has its own page, so libraries, clinicians and community agencies can link to the one they need.
Free Tools — every printable kit, free
All 24 of our printable worksheets, journals and handouts — anxiety relief, trauma grounding, depression support, emotion regulation, attachment healing, boundaries, sleep, burnout, CBT, parts work and couples tools — free to download and print.
Browse all 24 free tools →Anxiety Relief Toolkit
CBT skills on paper, so you have CBT skills on hand for when anxiety hits.
Open the tool →Grief Toolkit
For grief that arrives as anger, feels too big to let in, or doesn't fit the rules.
Open the tool →The Window of Tolerance
A two-page guide to your body's alarm and shutdown signals — and five ways back to steady
Open the tool →Getting to Know Your Parts
The IFS map of your inner family, and nine gentle questions for meeting one part of it.
Open the tool →Same Team
A free, self-guided conflict-resolution tool for couples and partners. Available in six languages: English, Arabic, French, Hindi, Malayalam, and Spanish.
Open Same Team →Shop — printable mental health tools
Prefer to own or gift a copy? The same kits are available as instant PDF downloads, CA$6.99–7.99.
Browse the shop →Paying for therapy
Sessions at TEO are $150 for individuals and $175 for couples, per 60-minute session, and the first step is a free 15-minute consultation. Provincial health plans (MSP, OHIP and their equivalents) do not cover private-practice counselling or psychotherapy. Extended health plans may reimburse part of the fee; reimbursement depends on the designation your plan covers (CCC, RCC or RSW), so check your plan's wording before booking. Direct billing is available with Mohamad Shabib and Alison Shaji for Pacific Blue Cross, CVAP and plans on the TELUS eClaims network (Canada Life and Manulife among them).
Working alongside other care providers
We believe good mental health care is coordinated. If you're already working with a psychiatrist, physician, or other support provider, we're happy to collaborate — with your consent — to ensure your care is cohesive.
If you're a healthcare provider who wants to refer clients to TEO Counselling Services, we welcome your referrals. Feel free to reach out directly at admin@teocounselling.com.
Common questions
Is TEO Counselling a crisis service?
No. TEO Counselling is a virtual therapy practice that works by appointment, seven days a week from 12 pm to 9 pm Pacific. We are not able to respond to emergencies between sessions. If you are in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7); in an emergency call 911.
Which crisis line do I call in Ontario, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Newfoundland?
Anywhere in Canada you can call or text 9-8-8. Provincially: in British Columbia call 1-800-784-2433 or 310-6789; in Ontario call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600; in Alberta call the Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642; in Saskatchewan dial 811; in Manitoba call 1-877-435-7170 or 204-786-8686; in Newfoundland and Labrador dial 811.
Is Kids Help Phone for adults?
No. Kids Help Phone is for young people — kids, teens and young adults — and is available 24/7 at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting CONNECT to 686868. Adults should call or text 9-8-8, or use the crisis line for their province listed on this page.
Is there free therapy in Ontario?
Yes, for some needs. Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) offers free, publicly funded cognitive-behavioural therapy to Ontario adults aged 18 and over with symptoms related to depression or an anxiety-related disorder; it is not suitable for everyone, and you can ask your doctor or health care team about a referral or self-refer through the regional network for your area. ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600, 24/7) can help you find other free and low-cost services near you.
How do I check that a therapist is registered?
Search the register of the body that grants the credential. In Ontario, Registered Psychotherapists and RP (Qualifying) members are on the CRPO Public Register and Registered Social Workers are on the OCSWSSW Online Register. In British Columbia, Registered Clinical Counsellors are listed by the BCACC, a professional association rather than a regulator. Canadian Certified Counsellors are listed by the CCPA across Canada; the CCPA is also a professional association, not a regulator. Alberta social workers are on the ACSW public register. A directory listing on its own is not proof of registration.
Is there mental health support in Arabic?
Yes. Anywhere in Canada you can call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7). It answers in English and French. By phone you can ask the responder for an interpreter, though one may not be available at every moment, and texting is in English or French. Young people can call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 and press 4 to talk with a counsellor through an interpreter; Arabic is one of the languages it names. In British Columbia, HealthLink BC (8-1-1) can add an interpreter to a call for health advice, and in Ontario, ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600, 24/7) can add a translator to a call when you are looking for mental health and addiction services. To read in Arabic, HeretoHelp has free fact sheets, wellness modules and booklets with audio, and HealthLink BC has translated many of its health fact sheets. The Naseeha helpline (1-866-627-3342, 24/7) offers peer support in several languages, including Arabic, depending on the volunteer schedule. Text4Amal, from the Canadian Arab Institute, sends free supportive text messages in Arabic, daily for three months: text the word Amal to +1 855 947 4673 (+1 855 947 HOPE). It is not a crisis line. At TEO Counselling, Mohamad Shabib provides therapy in Arabic online to clients in all six provinces we serve: British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Can a TEO therapist give me advice about my medication?
No. Our clinicians are counsellors, psychotherapists and a social worker, not prescribers, so we do not give advice about starting, stopping or changing medication. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist. In British Columbia you can call 8-1-1 and ask for a pharmacist between 5 pm and 9 am, seven days a week. In Ontario, people who take three or more prescription medications for a chronic condition, or who have diabetes, can book a free MedsCheck with a pharmacist once a year. If you live in Saskatchewan, medSask pharmacists answer medication questions at 1-800-665-3784 (Monday to Friday 9 am to midnight; weekends and holidays 5 pm to midnight). With your consent, we can work alongside the person who prescribes for you. If you are in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7); in an emergency call 911.
Who do I call about an overdose or a possible reaction to a medicine?
If the person is unconscious, having a seizure or having trouble breathing, call 911. If you think someone has taken too much of a medicine or been exposed to a poison, call the poison centre for your province, 24 hours a day: British Columbia 1-800-567-8911; Ontario 1-800-268-9017; Alberta 1-800-332-1414; Saskatchewan 1-866-454-1212; Manitoba 1-844-764-7669; Newfoundland and Labrador 1-844-764-7669. If the overdose was intentional or someone is thinking about suicide, also call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7). For a question about a side effect of a medicine you take, ask your prescriber or pharmacist; in an emergency, call 911. You can also report a suspected side effect to Health Canada online, but a report is not a way to get care.
Where can I get a free naloxone kit?
If someone may be overdosing, call 911. Canada's Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects people who seek emergency help during an overdose, including the person overdosing, from simple drug possession charges; it does not cover outstanding warrants, trafficking or other offences. Health Canada says take-home naloxone kits are available at most pharmacies without a prescription, and each province we serve has a free program: the Toward the Heart Site Finder in British Columbia; participating pharmacies and community sites in Ontario, with no health card needed; the Alberta Health Services Get Naloxone map; Take Home Naloxone Program sites and all emergency departments in Saskatchewan; the Naloxone Finder in Manitoba; and 811 in Newfoundland and Labrador. Contact a site before you go to check it has kits. People who use drugs can call or text the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677, 24/7, so they are not using alone.
Who can I ask about medication in pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Start with the prescriber, midwife or pharmacist who knows your situation. The Motherisk Helplines at SickKids closed in April 2019, and we have not found a public Canada-wide line that replaced them. In British Columbia, you can call 8-1-1 and ask for a pharmacist (5 pm to 9 am, seven days a week). The US-based MotherToBaby service has free fact sheets online, but its phone, text and chat service is only for US residents. TEO's clinicians are counsellors, psychotherapists and a social worker, not prescribers, so we cannot advise on medication. With your consent, we can work alongside the person who does. If you are in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7).
Is Wellness Together Canada still running?
No. Wellness Together Canada closed on April 3, 2024, and its old phone numbers no longer connect you to support. Call or text 9-8-8 (Canada, 24/7), or the crisis line for your province listed on this page.
What is the difference between 9-8-8 and 811?
9-8-8 is the national suicide crisis helpline — call or text it from anywhere in Canada, 24/7, if you are thinking about suicide or worried about someone. 811 is a provincial health line. In Saskatchewan and in Newfoundland and Labrador, 811 also provides mental health and addictions crisis support 24/7; elsewhere, use the crisis line for your province listed on this page rather than 811.
Ready to take the next step?
If you're ready to speak with a therapist, start with a free 15-minute consultation. No pressure, no commitment — just a conversation about whether TEO is the right fit.
Book a Free ConsultationOr reach us at admin@teocounselling.com · text (519) 760-5211