If You Are in Crisis or Need Immediate Help

Therapy with me is not an emergency or crisis service, and I am not available 24/7. If you are in immediate danger, believe you may seriously hurt yourself or someone else, or need urgent medical or psychiatric assessment, please do not wait for a response from me. Instead:

Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department if you are in immediate danger or need emergency medical attention. You can find your nearest ER by dialing 811 and asking the nurse on the line, or by going to 211 Ontario, selecting the “Health Care” button, and then inputting your city or postal code in the location field and selecting the “Hospital emergency / Urgent care” button.

Alternatively:

• Call or text 988 if you are thinking about suicide, experiencing a suicide-related crisis, or are concerned about someone else. The 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 across Canada.

• Call 811 (Health811) if you are unsure what level of medical care you need or want to speak with a registered nurse about a health concern. Health811 is available 24/7 in Ontario.

• You can also use our Resources page or the Ontario government's Find Mental Health Support page to find additional services in your area.

A note about suicidal thoughts

Having thoughts such as “I don't want to be here,” “I wish I could disappear,” or “I don't want to keep going” does not automatically mean that you need emergency intervention or that I will report what you have told me.

Therapy should be a place where you can talk honestly about difficult thoughts and feelings without worrying that simply saying them will automatically trigger an emergency response.

At the same time, if I have reasonable grounds to believe that there is a significant risk of serious harm to you or someone else, there are circumstances in which I may be legally or professionally required to take action. The limits of confidentiality and my duty to report are described in my Privacy & Confidentiality policy.

If You Need Support Between Sessions

You do not have to wait until something becomes an emergency before reaching out for support elsewhere.

Depending on what you need, this might mean contacting your family doctor or nurse practitioner, using Health811, connecting with a community mental health service, talking with someone you trust, or accessing a crisis/support line.

If you are looking for mental health or addiction services in Ontario, ConnexOntario provides free, confidential information and referrals 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600.

If you are a first responder or public safety professional, Ontario also maintains a list of specialized mental-health resources for first responders, including Boots on the Ground (24/7 peer support for first responders; I used to volunteer on the phones for them and they are a wonderful organization) and PSPNET.