Recommended
Group wellness programs
Counsellor in the Classroom, kidshelpphone.ca/get-involved/are-you-an-educator-check-out-counsellor-in-the-classroom
Promotes discussion of mental health and wellness
- educator-led classroom activities for students in grades 4-12
- 45-minute phone or video call between class and KHP counsellor
Brighter Days: An Indigenous Wellness Program, kidshelpphone.ca/get-involved/brighter-days-an-indigenous-wellness-program
Culturally safe and engaging audio and video group sessions on mental health and wellness, including skills development, tools and resources
- pre-session video
- virtual conversation with KHP Indigenous Wellness Specialist
- package includes step-by-step booklet, resource materials and promotional gifts for youth participants
Peer-to-Peer Community, peertopeer.kidshelpphone.ca
Online peer-moderated community support forums for youth and young adults 12-26 years
Recommended
Telephone, text, and online counselling and support; for telephone counselling in English and French call 1-800-668-6868, also available in over 100 languages including Arabic, Dari, Mandarin, Pashto, Russian, and Ukrainian through interpreters
- telephone, text and online (live chat) counselling and emotional support, and information and referral on a wide range of topics; anonymous and confidential
- chat available through cell phone, laptop, tablet, and desktop computer
- Resources Around Me national searchable online database of community resource listings
Crisis Text Line open to all youth in crisis, available by texting 686868 (see separate listing)
Peer2Peer, (Peer-to-Peer Community), peertopeer.kidshelpphone.ca
Community support online forum for youth 12-26 years to share experiences, offer inspiration and ask questions; available in English and French; confidential
Recommended
Mental health and addiction information, professional counselling, and referral on a wide range of services on and off campus
Crisis Text Line, text GOOD2TALKON to 686868
Trained volunteer crisis responders provide listening and support; anonymous and confidential
Web Messaging, visit Good2Talk.ca/Ontario
Trained volunteer crisis responders provide confidential support through online chat
Telephone and Text services also accessible online at Good2Talk.ca/Ontario
Kids Help Phone, Peer-to-Peer Community, see separate listing
Partnership of Kids Help Phone, ConnexOntario Health Services Information and Ontario 211 Services (see separate listings), and Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health
Fort Erie, ON, L2A 2L9
Counsel includes:
- anger resolution
- losses
- marriage
- parenting
- relationship and conflict resolution
- addictions
- abuse
- emotional upsets
- Provides a free, confidential, 24-hour telephone distress line available 24/7/365.
- uses trained volunteers
- assist callers to solve their own problems
- information and referrals
- intervene in life-threatening situations
- extensive pre-service training programs for distress line
- suicide prevention and intervention workshops
- communication skills training
- provides emotional support, crisis and suicide intervention through text or instant message for those individual who many not want to receive support face to face or speak over the phone.
- provides a free, confidential 12-hour online and text support between the hours of 2pm and 2am EST
- uses trained volunteers
- assist callers to solve their own problems
- information and referrals
- intervene in life-threatening situations
- extensive pre-service training programs for distress line
- suicide prevention and intervention workshops
- communication skills training
Niagara Falls, ON, L2E 1X8
Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario - On-site early intervention and crisis intervention
- needs assessment
- safety planning
- referrals to community services
- enhanced support for vulnerable victims
- assistance with applications to VQRP+
Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) -- assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, may include home safety, accommodation, meals, transportation, basic necessities, dependent care costs, counselling, traditional Indigenous health services, cellular phones, vision care, dental care, aids for victims with disabilities, interpretation services, crime scene cleanup, government/medical documents and funeral expenses
- Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes storage locker, tattoo removal and treatment at a recovery facility
- No direct reimbursements are made to victims for the supports listed above
- Financial support is also available for victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime and for parents of homicide victims and spouses of homicide victims
Niagara Falls, ON, L2H 3S6
- 24-hour support line (call or text - 905-356-5800)
- Counselling and emotional support for women and children/youth who are being or who have been abused
- Safety planning
- Transitional and housing support
- Public education program
- Referrals
- information on the family court process
- assistance in preparing for family court proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid)
- debriefing with clients following family court appearances
- referral to specialized services and supports in the community
- safety planning
- court accompaniment to proceedings when appropriate
Services are available on an in-shelter or office visit basis.
Welland, ON, L3B 3Y4
Port Colborne, ON, L3K 3E1
Provides a wide range of services on an individual case basis including:
- advocacy
- assistance with domestic abuse situations
- addictions
- emergency food
- crisis situations
- transportation
- may offer financial assistance for emergency medical need
- offer referrals for education and employment
The Housing Help services includes:
- information for landlords and tenants
- assisting clients and landlords with housing clients
- supports in maintaining housing and transitional housing moving forward
- program and information on rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants
Other services include:
- Koats for Kids
- Give a Gift, Adopt-A-Family at Christmas
- Back Packs for Back to School
Offers confidential one-on-one service to clients and refer when required. All services are free of charge.
Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON, L0S 1J0
- service coordination
- crisis intervention
- advocacy on behalf of the client
- referrals
- peer counseling
- one to one activities
Both clients and participants are invited to join in workshops, presentations, healing circles, talking circles, tradition based activities and recreational activities that are offered by the program.
- Provides a free, confidential, 24-hour telephone distress line available 24/7/365.
- uses trained volunteers
- assist callers to solve their own problems
- information and referrals
- intervene in life-threatening situations
- extensive pre-service training programs for distress line
- suicide prevention and intervention workshops
- communication skills training
- provides emotional support, crisis and suicide intervention through text or instant message for those individual who many not want to receive support face to face or speak over the phone.
- provides a free, confidential 12-hour online and text support between the hours of 2pm and 2am EST
- uses trained volunteers
- assist callers to solve their own problems
- information and referrals
- intervene in life-threatening situations
- extensive pre-service training programs for distress line
- suicide prevention and intervention workshops
- communication skills training
St Catharines, ON, L2R 2Z3
Supports for people affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS * helps people remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible * referral to other community services
Provides:
- education through the delivery of workshops, education sessions, resources and materials, speakers, peer education services
- referral to qualified medical, dental, mental health and legal services
- crisis intervention
- support groups
- friendly visiting
- counselling services
- community outreach
- caregiver support
- supportive housing
- 24 hr, case management, 'to-your-door' home supports for community residents
- immigrant/refugee, migrant worker, newcomer assistance, families, singles, or couples
- StreetWorks-needle exchange
- Safe Injection Site
- Naloxone training
- volunteer groups providing fundraising events
- Public Health Nurse available Monday afternoons for HIV, Hep C and STI testing as well as wound care
On-site rapid HIV testing Tuesday mornings * Testing services also include Hep C, STI and pregnancy testing and teaching * Also provides wound and abscess care services * Tuesday afternoons a Hepatitis C Outreach Worker is available for education and referrals to the Hepatitis C Care Clinic
St Catharines, ON, L2R 7E1
Individual/group counselling and theme-based workshops for survivors * Support also available for family and friends * Outreach counselling available at several locations throughout Niagara region including Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Welland and West Lincoln
Hospital Response Workers provide accompaniment, emotional support and advocacy for victims attending the St Catharines hospital for medical care and/or Sexual Assault Evidence Kit collection (up to 7 day post assault) * Information, accompaniment and referrals to other agencies also available during police investigation and court proceedings
Volunteer Program: Contact office for more information
Public speakers available for community groups and high schools on various topics including: Sexual assault awareness and prevention * Date rape * Sexual harassment * Childhood sexual abuse prevention * Self defence
Ongoing education program: * Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Program for grades 1-6 * Youth Issues Prevention Program for grades 7-8 * Film, handouts and interactive discussions
Workshops available for professionals who come into contact with survivors of sexual assault and/or their families
Member agency of Support Services Network for Male Survivors in Ontario (west region)
St Catharines, ON, L2R 0A3
Services include:
- compassionate one-on-one and group counselling
- emergency accommodation and transportation
- safety planning
- child and youth programming
- violence prevention programs and education
- second-stage housing
- transitional housing and support
- legal advice and support
- information on the family court process
- assistance in preparing for family court proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid)
- debriefing with clients following family court appearances
- referral to specialized services and supports in the community
- safety planning
- court accompaniment to proceedings when appropriate
Women do not have to stay at the shelter to access any of the free, confidential services. The goal is to provide safety, support and empowerment to vulnerable women, Two-spirit, gender queer, trans and non-binary individuals in the community.
St Catharines, ON, L2S 0A9
Provides 24 hour emergency medical care and crisis intervention to all individuals (male and female) who have been sexually assaulted or victims of domestic violence within the last 12 days. Services are provided through a specialized team sensitive to the needs of survivors. Options of care include emotional support, prophylactic treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV post exposure prophylaxis, pregnancy prevention, and the collection of forensic evidence to assist in the legal process. Victims of domestic violence have options of medical treatment, documentation of injuries, safety planning and police involvement.
For emergency treatment, go to any emergency department in the Niagara Region. The Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Program nurse will be paged.
Counselling Program: Offers short-term trauma counselling to recent victims (within 2 years of the assault/abuse) of sexual violence or intimate partner violence to individuals 16 years of age and older. A social worker is available to answer questions and/or determine eligibility for counselling services every Wednesday morning between 9 am-12 noon. Call for information.
St Catharines, ON, L2S 0G1
A mobile crisis intervention service providing immediate telephone counselling and, if necessary, on-site crisis intervention in the home, school, or other community location. Counsellors have access to psychiatric and psychologist consultation.
Crisis staff are able to go out to a crisis situation after information is collected over the phone and an on-site intervention is assessed as appropriate. For safety reasons, Crisis services will not go into violent situations where there is risk of client or staff harm. These situations require police involvement. If appropriate, intervention can occur after the violence has de-escalated in order to prevent an intensification of the crisis.
Services include: Crisis counselling, family support, referrals to resources, advocacy, community information, workshops (see Coping With Stress in the Family), access to psychiatric consultation, and crisis bed.
- Provides a free, confidential, 24-hour telephone distress line available 24/7/365.
- uses trained volunteers
- assist callers to solve their own problems
- information and referrals
- intervene in life-threatening situations
- extensive pre-service training programs for distress line
- suicide prevention and intervention workshops
- communication skills training
- provides emotional support, crisis and suicide intervention through text or instant message for those individual who many not want to receive support face to face or speak over the phone.
- provides a free, confidential 12-hour online and text support between the hours of 2pm and 2am EST
- uses trained volunteers
- assist callers to solve their own problems
- information and referrals
- intervene in life-threatening situations
- extensive pre-service training programs for distress line
- suicide prevention and intervention workshops
- communication skills training
Emergency Response Team - committee meets within 24 hours of a potentially abusive situation being identified to create a strategy to address the abuse
Education and Awareness - trained presenters provide workshops to community groups
- sessions include identifying and defining abuse and neglect, prevention, intervention, and support for older adults who have been abused
- Provides a free, confidential, 24-hour telephone distress line available 24/7/365.
- uses trained volunteers
- assist callers to solve their own problems
- information and referrals
- intervene in life-threatening situations
- extensive pre-service training programs for distress line
- suicide prevention and intervention workshops
- communication skills training
- provides emotional support, crisis and suicide intervention through text or instant message for those individual who many not want to receive support face to face or speak over the phone.
- provides a free, confidential 12-hour online and text support between the hours of 2pm and 2am EST
- uses trained volunteers
- assist callers to solve their own problems
- information and referrals
- intervene in life-threatening situations
- extensive pre-service training programs for distress line
- suicide prevention and intervention workshops
- communication skills training
Haldimand, ON, N0A 1E0
Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario - On-site early intervention and crisis intervention
- needs assessment
- safety planning
- referrals to community services
- enhanced support for vulnerable victims
- assistance with applications to VQRP+
Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) -- assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, may include home safety, accommodation, meals, transportation, basic necessities, dependent care costs, counselling, traditional Indigenous health services, cellular phones, vision care, dental care, aids for victims with disabilities, interpretation services, crime scene cleanup, government/medical documents and funeral expenses
- additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes storage locker, tattoo removal, and treatment at a recovery facility
- no direct reimbursements are made to victims for the support listed above
- financial support is also available for victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime and for parents of homicide victims and spouses of homicide victims
Hamilton, ON, L8V 5C2
Provides specialized healthcare for adolescents, women, transgender persons, and men who have experienced sexual assault and/or domestic violence. Reporting to the police is the decision of the survivor. Hospital staff will not report to the police without the permission of the survivor.
Hamilton, ON, L8L 3A2
The Family Support program provides support, information, early intervention, and referral to other services for parents with youth ages 12 to 17 who are experiencing parenting challenges or parent/child conflicts. This is a strength-based, family-centered service offered in individual and group formats. This program is delivered on- and off-site throughout Hamilton, Burlington, and area.
Funded by the United Way of Halton & Hamilton.
Hamilton, ON, L8L 5V7
Offers text message and web chat support for women experiencing abuse and homelessness. Provides confidential emotional support, practical advice, safety planning, and referrals to other local services.
Oakville, ON, L6L 5G8
Crisis Support Workers provide support and assistance to survivors of human trafficking. Services include:
- crisis intervention
- crisis housing
- basic needs
- emotional support
- advocacy & accompaniment
- safety planning and/or risk assessment
- supportive counselling
- practical assistance for transportation & service accessibility
- system navigation and housing supports
- life skills and mentorship
Oakville, ON, L6L 5G8
Services include:
- 24-hour crisis line
- free individual counselling for ages 16 and up
- support services for friends and family members
- advocacy, support and accompaniment to Nina's Place, the police station and court
Public Education
- customized public education workshops are available for elementary and high school students, community members and agencies in Halton
- for more information or to book a free presentation contact [email protected], or visit - savisofhalton.org/public-presentations
Anti-Human Trafficking Services
- Case Workers provide support and assistance to survivors
- for more information, see listing - OAK0170
Halton Collaborative Against Human Trafficking
- created to raise awareness about human trafficking in Halton and surrounding area
- for more information, see listing - OAK0047