Mental Health Resources
Crisis Response Training Programs for Essential Workers
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, essential workers may experience depression and heightened anxiety due to the stress on their own health, the health of their family and friends, and the future of their livelihoods. These programs are specifically designed to help provide individuals with the tools and knowledge to better understand their own mental health and the mental health of others.
Offering 3 training sessions. Registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis and will be available at no-cost for essential workers as defined by the Government of Canada.
- Caring for Yourself (2 hours) - Participants will be introduced to the Mental Health Continuum and the Big 4 Coping Strategies, learn how to better understand their own mental wellness, notice if they might be moving into unwell areas, use practical actions to help with stress, and know when to reach out to get professional help.
- Caring for your Team (3 hours) - Participants will be introduced to the Mental Health Continuum, the Big 4 Coping Strategies, and Ad Hoc Incident Review to help learn how to better understand their own and their team’s mental wellness, notice if they might be moving into unwell areas, use practical actions to help with stress, know when to reach out to get professional help and learn tips to support team members.
- Caring for Others (2 hours) - will focus on how to create a safe space to have conversations about mental health and/or substance use problems. This training will prepare participants to have conversations confidently about mental health during a crisis, with their family, friends, communities, and workplaces. Participants will be taught the skills required to respond to a mental health crisis until professional help arrives.
Mental Health Commission of Canada – COVID-19 Specific Resources
Provides resources on the COVID-19 Resource Hub to assist with your mental health and well-being during COVID-19. They offer links to credible information and resources about maintaining mental health, and supporting people managing a mental illness in the current context.
Coping with Stress, Anxiety, and Substance Use During COVID-19 Infographic: This resource is can be shared with clients, friends and families, to help people manage their mental health.
Wellness Together Canada – Mental Health and Substance Use Support
In recognition of the significant strain that COVID-19 has placed on individuals and families across the country, many people are concerned about their physical and mental well-being. Canadians are being challenged in a number of ways because of isolation, financial and employment uncertainty and disruptions to daily life. Wellness Together Canada provides tools and resources to help Canadians get back on track. These include modules for addressing low mood, worry, substance use, social isolation and relationship issues – at no cost.
- Wellness self-assessment and tracking.
- Self guided courses, apps, and other resources.
- Group coaching and peer support.
- Counselling by text or phone.
Canadian Mental Health Association – Bounce Back: Reclaim your Health
Bounce Back: Reclaim your Health - Provides mental health supports and during COVID-19 have expanded offerings. Supports people experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, stress and other mental health challenges.
Online Resources for Mental Wellness and Social Connections - A great resource for OTs (professionally and personally) and clients.
Other Resources:
Canadian Mental Health Association - Provides a list of provincial mental health supports as well as COVID-19 specific resources. Also provides resources for holiday survival tips, ways to increase physical activities, fighting back against social isolation, and more.
The Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence at Ontario Health is offering free confidential mental wellness and coping support services to healthcare and frontline workers across Ontario. Self-referral, access to mental health professionals, menu of services, and access to CBT. Individual or group/peer support available at COVID-19: Support for people | Ontario.ca
Ontario Government – COVID-19: Support for People - Includes links to mental health, wellness and addictions supports.