Suicide and Suicide Prevention

Asking for help can be hard. That’s why we offer a safe place to talk - any time, in your own way. If you are having thoughts of suicide, you don’t have to face them alone. We are available if you need a safe and judgement free place to talk. Our responders are here to listen to you, support you, and keep you safe.

Distress Centres (DCs) across Ontario offer instant support and a variety of services to their communities. At a DC you can find a listening ear for anyone who is feeling lonely, depressed, suicidal, or struggling otherwise. Most centres operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and include Suicide Survivor programs, support services for youth, telephone call-out programs for seniors and other vulnerable populations, mental health crisis lines, and more.

Every texter is connected with a Crisis Responder, a real-life human being trained to bring texters from a hot moment to a cool calm through active listening and collaborative problem-solving. All of our Crisis Responders are volunteers, donating their time to helping people in crisis.

Kids Help Phone is available through Text, Phone, Live Chat, and Messenger 24/7.

Black Youth Helpline serves all youth and specifically responds to the need for a Black youth specific service, positioned and resourced to promote access to professional, culturally appropriate support for youth, families and schools.

The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Youth Line offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through our telephone, text and chat services. Get in touch with a peer support volunteer from Sunday to Friday, 4:00PM to 9:30 PM.

Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer support phone service run by trans people for trans and questioning peers. Some of the best support that trans people can receive is from trans community members with shared lived experience. They also have a Family & Friends Line, which provides peer support for friends, partners, family members and professionals supporting trans loved ones and community members.

NEDIC provides information, resources, referrals and support to Canadians affected by eating disorders through our toll-free helpline and instant chat. Outreach and education programming focuses on the awareness and prevention of eating disorders, and is available online across Canada and in-person in the Greater Toronto Area. Instant chat is available from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Thursday and Friday from 9am to 5pm. Emails will be answered during those hours. The NEDIC helpline (1-866-NEDIC-20 and 416-340-4156) is open from 11am to 7pm Monday to Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 5pm. All times EST.

A list of services that provide suicide crisis services, suicide bereavement support, and mental health support.

"This group is an opportunity for survivors to connect with other survivors and talk openly about suicide. An important part of the healing process is the opportunity to share and express your grief with other survivors. The group is facilitated by persons who have lost loved ones to suicide."

Heartache2Hope provides healing support to adults who have experienced a suicide loss. They offer 12-week support groups, drop-in group meetings, individual support and community education.