Searching for In-Person Crisis Services

All in-person services are by appointment only; services are also offered virtually, by phone or video conference

Provides confidential and free support for Francophone women affected by sexual assault including the following:

• Accompaniment
• Advocacy
• Community liaison and development
• Counselling and peer support
• Information and referral
• Practical assistance

Also provides:

• Free lending library
• Prevention programs
• Public education
• Volunteer training

Satellite office located in:

• Geraldton

Assists community members with the following legal matters:

• Criminal Law if custody is probable
• Family Law
• Child Welfare

Note: Does not help with civil law, employment law, human rights, housing, or social assistance (contact a Community Legal Worker (CLW) for a referral)

• Offers on-site early intervention and crisis intervention
• Provides needs assessment, safety planning and referrals to community services
• Offers enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• Provides assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+)

Provides assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, including:

• home safety
• accommodation
• meals
• transportation
• basic necessities
• dependent care costs
• counselling
• traditional Indigenous health services
• cellular phones
• vision care
• dental care
• aids for victims with disabilities
• interpretation services
• crime scene cleanup
• government/medical documents
• funeral expenses

Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes:

• storage locker
• tattoo removal
• treatment at a recovery facility

Note: No direct reimbursement to victims for supports listed above

Financial support also available for:

• victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime
• parents of child homicide victims
• spouses of homicide victims

• Offers on-site early intervention and crisis intervention
• Provides needs assessment, safety planning and referrals to community services
• Offers enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• Provides assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+)

Provides assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, including:

• home safety
• accommodation
• meals
• transportation
• basic necessities
• dependent care costs
• counselling
• traditional Indigenous health services
• cellular phones
• vision care
• dental care
• aids for victims with disabilities
• interpretation services
• crime scene cleanup
• government/medical documents
• funeral expenses

Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes:

• storage locker
• tattoo removal
• treatment at a recovery facility

Note: No direct reimbursement to victims for above supports

Financial support also available for:

• victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime
• parents of child homicide victims
• spouses of homicide victims

Sexual Assault Counselling

• Provides individual counselling to victims and their families

• Works in partnership with the mobilization officer of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and jointly with the Safe Bed Program
• Assists individuals who are in mental health and/or addiction crisis

Services provided include the following:

• Crisis prevention, intervention and postvention
• Education and support to OPP officers and civilian staff
• Community outreach
• Follow-up, advocacy and referrals to other community services as needed

Provides crisis intervention services to individuals affected by family violence

• Offers immediate on site or telephone assistance
• Dispatches call to police when deemed necessary
• Dispatches other supports if necessary
• Ensures victims receive support and assistance to secure their safety
• Arranges meeting family members at centre or agreed upon location to discuss possible crisis resolutions
• Provides advocacy on behalf of individuals and families dealing with various agencies
• Provides information and referrals to appropriate resources and services

• Offers individual, family and group counselling for mental health issues
• Provides referral services to appropriate supports
• Offers limited supported housing services for qualifying individuals with serious mental health issues who are at-risk of homelessness

Services offered for mental health issues can include but not limited to:

• Bereavement
• Depression
• Relationship problems
• Stress
• Trauma

Provides crisis intervention services to individuals affected by family violence and suicide

• Offers immediate on site or telephone assistance
• Dispatches call to police when deemed necessary
• Ensures victims receive support and assistance to secure their safety
• Arranges meeting family members at centre or agreed upon location to discuss possible crisis resolutions

Also coordinates:

• Crisis plan to follow in response to suicide intervention, domestic violence intervention and any other form of crisis situations that may arise in community
• Information sessions and workshops on techniques for healing strategies

Support Services

Includes the following services:

• Debriefing and stabilization following crisis situation
• Advocacy on behalf of individuals and families dealing with various agencies
• Information about/referrals to appropriate resources and services

Provides an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process through traditional talking circles for Indigenous youth and young adults who are struggling with issues such as:

• Crisis
• Drug addiction
• Homelessness
• Human trafficking
• Lack of education
• Legal issues
• Lack of life skills and basic needs
• Mental health problems
• Violence

Allows youth participating in the talking circle to:

• Make decisions safely
• Speak and share freely
• Be acknowledged in a respectful traditional manner
• Be empowered and to build on their strengths, skills and resiliency
• Be supported through participants, family members and an Elder

Functions as an alternative to the Court process regarding Child Welfare matters

• Provides family mediation services (dispute resolution) through traditional Circles
• Aims to restore harmony between family members through an agreed-upon family care plan

• Offers culturally appropriate counselling services to Indigenous women by Indigenous women, via telephone, text, or chat

Offers services in 14 languages, including:

• Oji-Cree
• Cree
• Algonquin
• Inuktitut
• Mohawk
• Oneida
• Odawa
• Potawatomi
• Micmac
• Black Foot
• Anishnaabe
• Moose Cree
• Swampy Cree
• English

Telephone crisis support continues to operate 24/7. In Thunder Bay, call or text 807-346-8282, or in the district, call toll-free at 1-888-269-3100. Mobile Unit and Crisis Support Residence currently suspended due to covid-19.

• Provides 24/7 telephone support, including via text
• Offers an 8 hour mobile unit to provide in-person crisis assessment
• Operates a short-term Crisis Support Residence

Telephone support provides the following:

• Crisis assessment and intervention
• Follow-up
• Referrals to other community services
• Support to family and friends
• Wellness Planning

LOCAL CMHA BRANCH SERVICES DURING COVID-19

CMHA branches are open but many are offering alternative service delivery at this time
Service delivery may be provided:

• in person
• by phone

or in the following virtual ways:

• PCVC - Personal computer video conferencing
• OTN - Ontario Telemedicine Network
• ZOOM - Video/web conferencing platform

Please note: CMHA branch offerings are subject to change in response to the ongoing developments of COVID-19. The website below will reflect the most accurate and current information.

Follow this link to determine how service delivery is being provided by choosing the appropriate CMHA location from the website's drop down list.

• Offers on-site early intervention and crisis intervention
• Provides needs assessment, safety planning and referrals to community services
• Offers enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• Provides assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+)

Provides assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, including:

• home safety
• accommodation
• meals
• transportation
• basic necessities
• dependent care costs
• counselling
• traditional Indigenous health services
• cellular phones
• vision care
• dental care
• aids for victims with disabilities
• interpretation services
• crime scene cleanup
• government/medical documents
• funeral expenses

Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes:

• storage locker
• tattoo removal
• treatment at a recovery facility

Note: No direct reimbursement to victims for above supports

Financial support also available for:

• victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime
• parents of child homicide victims
• spouses of homicide victims

Volunteers

• Recruits individuals to provide support to victims
• Provides individuals with specialized training at no cost

Volunteers will:

• Assist in developing a personalized safety plan for the victim
• Provide information about legal assistance and programs
• Offer referrals to long-term service providers within the community
• Provide temporary practical and emotional support

• Provides individualized 24 hour emergency service to victims and survivors of sexual assault and/or domestic violence
• Provides emergency medical assessment and treatment
• Provides initial emotional and social support as well as ongoing follow-up care by specially trained nurses

Provides initial emergency care only with the patient's informed consent, and may include all or part of the following:

• Assessment and treatment of injuries
• Testing/treatment/prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV
• Emergency contraceptives
• Reassurance and emotional support
• Collection of forensic evidence including photographs
• Risk assessment and safety planning
• Referral for medical follow-up
• Referral to appropriate social services agencies
• Referral to shelter and or other relevant community resources
• Police involvement, at victims request
• Storage of forensic evidence for up to six months if the patient is uncertain about involving the authorities

Provides optional follow-up services accessible through the Sexual Assault/ Domestic Violence Victim Treatment Centre (SA/DVTC) that may include:

• Reassessment of injuries
• Further consideration of safety
• Continuing treatment and monitoring of STIs (including Hepatitis and HIV)
• Further photographs if indicated
• Appropriate referrals

• Provides support services to Indigenous women and their families who are experiencing violence and are involved in the child welfare system
• Works to meet the needs of women involved with both the Child Welfare Systems (CAS) and Violence Against Women Sectors (VAW)

Aims to create a safe and supportive means of living through collaboration with other community services and the provision of culturally based services including:

• Advocacy support
• Crisis management
• Cultural and traditional supports such as holistic teachings, sharing circles, ceremonies and guidance from Elders
• Information and education provision for mothers on their rights and responsibilities
• Systems navigation
• Work with families and Children's Aid Society (CAS) to resolve conflict

Operates a trauma-informed care program for Indigenous women who have been impacted by trauma

Services offered include:

• Advocacy
• Cultural supports
• Holistic services
• Land-based therapy
• Referrals
• Safety planning
• Supportive and traditional counselling
• Traditional healing

Provides supports for Indigenous women, youth and girls affected by sexual exploitation

Crisis services include:

• Immediate response to women at risk of human trafficking or leaving a situation of trafficking
• Stabilization with transportation to safe housing
• Collaboration with police services as required
• Access to ongoing trauma-informed, culturally-based crisis care and supports as needed

Long-term supports and services include:

• Case management
• Developing safety plans
• Short and long-term planning
• One on one supportive counselling
• Referrals and transportation/accompaniment to community resources
• Follow-up services as required

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+)

Provides assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, including:

• home safety
• accommodation
• meals
• transportation
• basic necessities
• dependent care costs
• counselling
• traditional Indigenous health services
• cellular phones
• vision care
• dental care
• aids for victims with disabilities
• interpretation services
• crime scene cleanup
• government/medical documents
• funeral expenses

Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes:

• storage locker
• tattoo removal
• treatment at a recovery facility

Note: No direct reimbursement to victims for above supports

Financial support also available for:

• victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime
• parents of child homicide victims
• spouses of homicide victims

• Promotes the safety of each community through the emergency response plans coordinated by the area First Response teams
• Acts as the liaison between the communities and Nishnawbe-Aski Nation in regards to responding to regional crisis situations
• Provides training to each community's crisis coordinators, volunteer crisis teams and community members
• Provides support to community crisis coordinators with office procedures, documentation and reporting
• Facilitates intervention, counselling and support group services for community members who are experiencing some form of crisis
• Maintains and updates a Regional Crisis Response Manual that includes all the Matawa Territory communities Crisis Response Plans

Support services provided can include:

• Debriefing and stabilization
• Identification of issues and appropriate referrals to community and regional resources
• Spiritual support

Services provided for various reasons including the following but not limited to:

• Accidental deaths
• Attempted suicide
• Bullying in the schools
• Domestic assaults and violence
• Flooding and/or evacuation
• Homicide
• Loss through fire
• Sudden death
• Trauma of any form

All in-person services are by appointment only; services are also offered virtually, by phone or video conference

Provides confidential and free support for Francophone women affected by sexual assault including the following:

• Accompaniment
• Advocacy
• Community liaison and development
• Counselling and peer support
• Information and referral
• Practical assistance

Also provides:

• Free lending library
• Prevention programs
• Public education
• Volunteer training

Head office located in Thunder Bay