Mental Health Supports for Health Care Workers

Anonymous Call Lines

COAST Crisis Lines

  • Administration line if Peer Support staff have any non-urgent questions 905-972-8118
  • COAST Hamilton 905-972-8338
  • COAST Niagara 1-866-550-5205
  • COAST Halton 1-877-825-9011
  • COAST Brantford 1-866-811-7188

Barrett Centre Wellness

  • 24 HOUR CRISIS LINE: 905-529-7878 TOLL FREE: 1-844-777-3571

Together Canada (Canada Wide but operated by Homewood Health)

  • 1-866-585-0445 Callers only have to provide First Name, City and Province

Counselling

St. Joseph’s COVID-19: Mental Health Services for Health Care Workers

The COVID-19 Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Service provides confidential support for Healthcare Workers.

  • CONNECT Line (M-F 8-4 p.m.) 905-522-1155 x36499 OR request support online anytime (will be responded to within 24 hours) .

Health and community care workers have made a selfless commitment to care for our community during COVID-19. At work and at home, you have shown incredible strength. But even the strongest among us need help sometimes. Anxiety, exhaustion and compassion fatigue are all normal responses in this pandemic. It’s ok to say it: this is really hard.

  • Multiple care pathways available depending on the HCW needs/preference
  • Strength/solution-focused principles are applied to all pathways
  • A HCW can increase or decrease frequency, intensity and level of care
  • Care is timely and responsive to the HCW’s readiness and need
  • Pathway options include:
    • Self-Directed (self-help/online resources)
    • Peer Support (group and individual format)
    • Brief Psychoeducational (structured skill building)
    • iCBT (virtual therapy)
    • Individual or Group Psychotherapy
    • Tertiary/Acute Referral

Here4Health Care Waterloo Wellington

Immediate access to virtual care including professional counselling, a 24/7 Crisis Line, and other mental health updates.

COVID Specific Resources

Canadian Psychological Association

They have comprised a list of psychologists who have volunteered their time to provide FREE remote psychological services to health care providers throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Click on the link and choose a psychologist in your preferred language. They have all agreed to respond to your request within 24 hours and to provide services free of charge throughout the crisis.

CMHA Hamilton

They are offering 4, 1 hour sessions of virtual mental health support Monday to Friday for healthcare and social service staff. Access by calling 905-521-0090.

  • The health care worker skill-building support program helps front-line workers with their increased stress and anxiety during COVID-19. It helps build a toolkit of skills on resilience as they manage the stresses of working through a pandemic.
  • In addition to health care workers, this service is also available to educators and staff in the school system who may be experiencing increased stress and anxiety.
  • The program is available virtually, one-on-one, for four sessions.
  • Individuals interested can be referred (or self-refer) through St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s Connect Mental Health and Addiction Outpatient Program. Individuals needing more support are triaged back through Connect and can access additional supports if necessary based on the stepped care model.
  • The program is available in the Greater Hamilton Area. Canadian Mental Health Association branches in Niagara and Oxford County are also offering the program in their regions.
  • The program has a research component in collaboration with Dr. Diana Singh at McMaster University who designed a pre-survey and post-survey to help evaluate the effectiveness of the new program.

Wellness Together Canada

It has self-assessments for distress, peer support resources, and other free tools for Canadians to use to use to improve mental and physical health. You may want to share at your workplaces.

Self-Directed Resources