youth looking for support

Tools and resources for youth

If you require immediate, in-person emergency support, call 911, or go to your nearest emergency department.

 

Crisis Resources

 

Tools and resources to support mental health and safer substance use

You may find the following resources helpful. Many of these tools have been developed for youth by youth with lived experience of mental health challenges and/or substance use concerns.  

Find in-person services available near you:

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario

  • Your local YWHO site provides walk-in, low barrier and high quality youth mental health services to support Ontario youth and families with their unique needs. Find your closest site here.

Black Youth Helpline

  • Serves all youth and specifically responds to the needs of Black youth.
  • Services include professional, culturally relevant youth and family assessments and intervention, help with system navigation, stay-in-school initiatives and much more. 
  • Available from 9am to 10pm, 7 days a week. 
  • Clients can submit service requests 24 hours a day using the 'contact us form' on the website. 
  • Toronto phone: 416-285-9944
  • National phone: 1-833-294-8650
  • Email: info [at] blackyouth.ca (info[at]blackyouth[dot]ca)

Connex Ontario

  • Provides free & confidential health services information for people experiencing problems with alcohol & drugs, mental illness or gambling.
  • Call: 1-866-531-2600
  • Text: CONNEX to 247247
  • Chat online

Kids Help Phone Resources Around Me

  • This tool helps connect young people to virtual and in-person support in communities across Canada, including counselling and mental health, drugs, alcohol and gambling, physical health, housing and basic needs, jobs and money, legal and advocacy, violence and abuse, wellness and community, and more!

Mental Health Helpline

  • Provides information about counselling services and supports in your community for all ages. Team members listen, offer support and provide strategies to help you. 
  • Call: 1-866-531-2600

Pathways to Care ConnectME: 

  • ConnectME links Black children, youth, and their caregivers to nearby mental health services that uplift who they are.
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Understanding and supporting your mental health

Click on the title to access the resource.

Youth Wellness Quest

The Youth Wellness Quest can help you start thinking about what kind of help for mental health or substance use may be right for you. It’s your go-to guide for mental health information.
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Mood Matters: Describing depression

Find out what depression is, what the causes might be, what challenges might come up and what you can do to support yourself or your friends or family members.
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Mood Matters: How food, movement and sleep can have an impact on you

Find out how healthy eating, movement and sleep habits can improve your health and mental health, and get tips for changes you can start today.
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Mood Foundations (English Only)

A fact sheet on depression and tips on sleep, exercise and healthy eating.
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Medication and YOUth (English Only)

Learn more about selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), benefits and side effects and tips on how to take the medication.
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Game Changers: Things you should know about mental health

A resource to help youth identify what a mental health challenge can feel or look like. French available. Spanish and Cantonese coming soon.
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Game Changers: Self-care Information

A resource providing important information on self-care and examples of activities that can support overall health. French available. Spanish and Cantonese versions coming soon.
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Game Changers: Six ways to practise self-care

A resource to help youth discover healthy ways to cope with challenges and stress in their lives. French available. Spanish and Cantonese coming soon.
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Our Voice Matters

Learn more about youth who are making a difference and hear their individual stories of mental health challenges, and experiences with the system and their communities.
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Understanding substance use and supporting safer use

#TheBluntTruth (English Only)

  • Learn ways that you can reduce risks to your health if you choose to use cannabis.

Game Changers: Things you should know about alcohol

  • A resource with important information about youth and alcohol that they can use as they think about if they are going to use it or not.

Game Changers: Six ways to use alcohol more safely

  • A harm reduction resource offering tips to youth on using alcohol in ways that may reduce their risk for harm should they decide to use alcohol.

Game Changers: Buzz on Booze

  • A resource offering quick facts about alcohol that are directly related to youth.

Game Changers: Things you should know about cannabis

  • A resource with important information about youth and cannabis that they can use as they think about if they are going to use it or not.

Game Changers: Quick Tips about safer ways to use cannabis

  • A resource outlining the short and long-term health risks that may impact youth as they think about using cannabis.

Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s Sensible Cannabis Education Booklets – by youth for youth

  • Resources developed by a grassroots network of youth and students who are concerned about the negative impact our drug policies have on individuals and communities. 

CAMH Mental Illness and Addiction Index

  • Get informed with clear, reliable information about mental illness and addiction, including treatment and recovery.

CAMH’s Youth & Mental Health 101

  • A Mental Health 101 Online Tutorial developed for youth

Jack.org Resources

  • Mental health and addictions resources vetted by the Jack.org professional programs team. Many resources are developed in conjunction with young leaders from the Jack.org network.

Reaching out for more support

Game Changers: Talk about it

  • A resource to help youth start a conversation about their own mental health.

Game Changers: Conversation Starter

  • A resource to help youth start a conversation and be supportive if they’re concerned about a friend’s mental health.

Supporting yourself or someone in crisis

Game Changers: How to stay safe

  • Things you should know about having a mental health crisis and about suicide

Game Changers: Supporting someone who may be considering suicide

  • A resource to help start a conversation and support someone who may be considering suicide

Hope App by CAMH

  • A free smartphone app that provides suicide prevention information, tools and crisis resources to support and guide individuals when they are experiencing thoughts of suicide. Individuals can create a personalized suicide safety plan, which can be done in consultation with their healthcare professional, loved one, or someone who they have a trusting relationship with. 

Resources for First Nations, Inuit and Metis Youth

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario and Shkaabe Makwa at CAMH have partnered with Indspire to develop a series of resources on well-being, mental health and substance use for First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth and their communities. All resources have been created by a team of experts, including young people and a Knowledge Keeper.

Building your medicine bundle: Understanding your mental health journey

  • Ways to understand well-being through traditional knowledge and expertise, with examples of different strengths and challenges people may face in their own wellness journey.

Journeying along the river: Reaching out for support

  • Ways to support yourself during your own wellness journey, including challenges you may face and tips for reaching out for more support from others.

Preparing for your Journey: Navigating stigma and creating a supportive community:

  • Understanding stigma that you may face on your own wellness journey, including how to recognize those who can help you on your journey.

We Matter 

  • A platform where Indigenous role models, youth, and community members from across Canada share their own experiences of overcoming hardships, and communicate that no matter how hopeless life can feel, there is always a way forward.

Strengthening our Connections to Promote Life: A Life Promotion Toolkit by Indigenous Youth 

  • This toolkit is a youth-focused and youth-led response to suicide, mental wellness, and substance use in Indigenous communities.

Native Youth Sexual Health Network – Indigenizing Harm Reduction 

  • For Indigenous youth looking for harm reduction practices that help reclaim self-determination over their own health and bodies.

Rivers to Success 

  • A variety of resources for Indigenous youth. 

Resources for 2SLGBQ+ and Trans Youth

Trevor Project resource page (US organization) 

  • The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people. Use the Resource Center to find multiple articles, resources and guides for youth.