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How to Access Remote Peer Support During COVID-19

May 12, 2020

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Consumer-Survivor and Support Lines/Online Groups:

Centre for Innovation in Peer Support: www.centreforinnovationinpeersupport.com

The Center offers two large streams of virtual services & programming. One for Systems/Partner and one for Direct Service.

Virtual Direct Service: 22 wellness based, peer-led virtual self-help and social connections groups (days, evening & weekend). Open across province. Peer Navigation and 1:1 services by phone, text or virtual Monday-Friday. Peer Warm Line phone services Monday-Friday.

Virtual System/Partner Offerings: Weekly on-line Communities of Practice for Peer Support Worker and one for Peer Support Supervisors. Open across province. Guidelines, manuals & toolkits, open to province. Training for peer positions, supervisors, teams and organizations. Support for peer program implementation. Quality improvement & evaluation support. Infrastructure & governance. Influencing policy & decision makers. Contact: info@centreforinnovationinpeersupport.com for more info.

Choices for Change: 1-877-218-0077 or text locally at 519-949-8025

Choices for Change is offering virtual meetings and phone support. Call them for more detail or visit: https://choicesforchange.ca/covid-19/

CMHA Fort Frances:

Providing Zoom peer support groups; daily phone supports, staring to provide some evening and weekend supports.  More info: https://www.cmhaff.ca/cmha-fort-frances

CrazyBoards:  www.crazyboards.org

Durham Mental Health Services: https://dmhs.ca

Offering several groups for peer support via Zoom, 1:1 support over the phone including family support via Zoom groups. Crisis line/ CALL 905-666-0483 24/7 now offering a zoom option 

H.O.P.E. (Helping Ourselves through Peer Support & Employment)

Hope is providing phone and email peer support.  They can be reached at 519-751-1694 or email joanne@hopebrant.ca.  If there’s no answer, you can leave a message and phone number and your call will be returned.

Icarus Project Message Board: www.theicarusproject.net

Krasmn Centre Crisis Line:  1-888-777-0979

24/7 crisis and warm-line telephone peer support by/for consumer/survivors.

Lambton Mental Wellness CTR: http://www.lmwc.ca

1-1 calls, distributing old Iphones, looking to expand remote group work.

Mental Health Rights Coalition, Hamilton: http://mentalhealthrights.ca

Peer support via phone (Business hours Mon-Thurs 11 am- 4pm, Fri 12 pm – 4 pm. M

Mental Health Support Program  (MHSP): 1-877-383-2070

For frontline peer supporters needing support. You can also email  Andrea Schaefer with the subject header “Peer Supporter” at  aschaefer@mhsp-links.ca  

Mental Health Support Program Lanark: https://www.mhsp-links.ca

Peer wellness checks; remote social rec, mail shout out letters, updating website, remote support to peer support.

Mood Disorders Association of Ontario Support Line: 1-888-486-8286                                                                 

Non-crisis telephone peer support and resource information by/for consumer/survivors. Operates Monday to Friday from 9:30am-5pm. 

Northern Initiative for Social Action Warm Line: 1-866-856-9276

Non-crisis telephone peer support by/for consumer/survivors. Operates daily from 6pm-midnight. Now serving in daytime hours  Mon-Friday (8:30am-4:00pm @ 705-222-NISA (6472)

Progress Place Warm Line Text: 1-647-557-5882 / 416-960-WARM (9276)

Non-crisis peer support available from your computer or mobile device by/for consumer/survivors. Peers are available by phone/email/text SEVEN days a week from 8 PM until midnight: www.warmline.ca

Psychiatric Survivors Network of Elgin Warm Line: 1-888-631 1919                                                                         

Non-crisis telephone peer support by/for consumer/survivors. Operates daily from 6pm-midnight. 

Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa: https://www.pso-ottawa.ca

Telephone peer support call in 12pm-6pm 7 days/wk plus call outs to members, Facebook group virtual lounge, Zoom support, mindfulness and activity groups with a local phone number, weekly email newsletter, monthly mail out

Self Help & Peer Support, CMHA Waterloo Wellington:

Peer support groups via teleconference, enhanced peer warmline, 1:1 peer support by phone. More info: https://cmhaww.ca/programs-services/group-and-peer-support/

Crisis/Distress Lines 

Anishnawbe 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Management Service: 416-891-8606                                                           

24/7 crisis telephone helpline offering support based on Traditional practices and approaches.

Assaulted Women’s Helpline: 1-866-863-0511 / TTY 1-866-863-7868                                                                         

24/7 telephone helpline for women in Ontario who have experienced abuse. 

Fem’aide: 1-877-336-2433                                                                                                                                        

Offre aux femmes d’expression française aux prises avec la violence sexiste, du soutien, des renseignements et de l’aiguillage vers les services appropriés dans leur collectivité 24 heures par jour, sept jours par semaine.

Gerstein Centre:  416-929-5200                                                                                                                                 

24/7 crisis telephone helpline staffed by crisis workers. Also offers in-person community visits and a residence where people in crisis can stay for short periods of time. 

Good2Talk: 1-866-925-5454                                                                                                                                          

24/7 telephone helpline for post-secondary students in Ontario staffed by healthcare professionals. 

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868                                                                                                                                 

24/7 telephone helpline for Canadian children and youth ages 20 and under staffed by healthcare professionals. 

Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youthline: 1-800-268-9688                                                                                                       

Peer support by/for LGBTQ-identifying or questioning Ontario youth ages 26 and under by telephone, internet chat, email, and text(to 647-694-4275) available Sunday to Friday from 4-9:30pm. www.youthline.ca

Muslim Women’s Helpline: 1-888-315-6472                                                                                                                 

Telephone helpline available from 10am-10pm Ontario time. 

Scarborough Hospital Mobile Crisis Program: 416-495-2891                                                                                      

24/7 crisis telephone helpline. Also offers in-person community visits and connection to hospital if needed.

Toronto Distress Centre: 416-408-4357                                                                                                                       

24/7 crisis and distress telephone helpline. 

Toronto Rape Crisis Centre: 416-597-8808 / 416-597-1214 (TTY)  

24/7 telephone crisis line offering feminist peer support to survivors of any form of sexual violence. Also offers in-person counselling and other services. 

Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366

Peer support hotline for transgender and gender non-conforming people experiencing crisis/distress staffed by self-identified trans people.

York Support Services Network: 1-855-310-COPE (2673) / 1-866-323-7785

24/7 crisis telephone helpline. Also offers in-person community visits (either by mental health workers or a mental health worker and a police officer) and a residence where people in crisis can stay for short periods of time.

Ontario Online & Text Crisis Services: Text 741741 /www.dcontario.org                                                                       

Free, confidential online chat and text service available from your computer or mobile device. Operates daily from 2pm-2am.