| Contact | osicanab.ca |
| Information | OSI-CAN is a free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel. |
| Service area | Alberta |
| Resource types | Online service, in-person service |
| Support type | Peer support |
| Target demographics | Military members and Veterans, military families, public safety personnel, public safety personnel families |
| Serves children (0–12) | — |
| Serves youth (13–17) | — |
| Serves adults (18+) | Yes |
| Serves families | Yes |
| Language spoken | English 🍁 |
About this directory of supports
Navigating mental health support can be challenging during emergency situations, such as Canada's ongoing wildfires. This comprehensive guide aims to simplify that journey by providing a curated list of evidence-informed and free mental health and well-being resources available across Canada to all communities.
Whether you or your family members are in need of immediate assistance through crisis support, seeking ongoing wellness supports, requiring tools to help navigate further resources, or looking for counselling services, this resource list is designed to help you find the right support to maintain and enhance your mental well-being before, during, and after an emergency.
Although the majority of these resources are tailored to meet the needs of the broader community in Canada (adults, youth, children, and families), a smaller subset of these resources are tailored to specific occupational groups — including public safety personnel (PSP), health care providers (HCP), military members and Veterans — as well as to equity-deserving groups like Indigenous populations, BIPOC communities, and LGBTQ2SIA+ individuals.
Please select the resource that is best tailored to your own needs.
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OSI-CAN Alberta
Free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel
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OSI-CAN British Columbia
OSI-CAN is a free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel
Contact osicanbc.ca Information OSI-CAN is a free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel. Service area British Columbia Resource types Online service, in-person service Support type Peer support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families, public safety personnel, public safety personnel families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
OSI-CAN Manitoba
In-person peer support for Veterans, first responders and public safety personnel living in Manitoba
Contact osicanmb.ca Information A free, confidential, community-based Peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders and public safety personnel. Service area Manitoba Resource types Online service, in-person service Support type Peer support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families, public safety personnel, public safety personnel families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
OSI-CAN Saskatchewan
OSI-CAN is a free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel
Contact osicansk.ca Information OSI-CAN is a free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel. Service area Saskatchewan Resource types Online service, in-person service Support type Peer support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families, public safety personnel, public safety personnel families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
OUTSaskatoon
Provides support services, education, resources, and counselling for the LGBTQ+ community in Saskatoon
Contact outsaskatoon.ca Information Provides support services, education, resources, and counselling for the LGBTQ+ community in Saskatoon. Service area Saskatchewan Resource types Online service, in-person service Support type Wellness support Target demographic LGBTQ2SIA+ Serves children (0–12) Yes Serves youth (13–17) Yes Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
Peer Connections Manitoba
Aims to provide quality, value-based peer support and mental health education for Manitobans and their families dealing with mental health and substance use challenges
Contact peerconnectionsmb.ca Information Aims to provide quality, value-based peer support and mental health education for Manitobans and their families dealing with mental health and substance use challenges. Service area Manitoba Resource types Online service, in-person service, telephone Support type Peer support Target demographic General population Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
Rainbow Resource Centre
Offers support to the 2SLGBTQ+ community in the form of counselling, education, and programming
Contact rainbowresourcecentre.org Information Offers support to the 2SLGBTQ+ community in the form of counselling, education, and programming. Service area Manitoba Resource types Online service, in-person service Support type Wellness support Target demographic LGBTQ2SIA+ Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) Yes Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
SaskAbilities: Partners in Mental Health and Well-being
Offers in-person programs for people with mental health diagnoses or barriers, including peer support groups and professional sessions
Contact saskabilities.ca/services/community-programs/partners-in-mental-health-and-well-being Information Offers in-person programs for people with mental health diagnoses or barriers, including peer support groups and professional sessions. Service area Saskatchewan Resource type In-person service Support types Wellness support, peer support Target demographic General population Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) Yes Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
South Asian Women’s Centre
Provides wellness groups, counselling, and crisis intervention for South Asian women living in Ontario
Contact sawc.org Information Provides wellness groups, counselling, and crisis intervention for South Asian women living in Ontario. Service area Ontario Resource type In-person service Support type Wellness support Target demographic South Asian women Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) Yes Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
The Lighthouse For Grieving Children
Peer support groups for children, youth and young adults ages 3-24 years experiencing grief after the death of someone significant in their lives. Groups are ongoing and open-ended, allowing families to stay with The Lighthouse community for as long as they need to actively explore grief in their own time. Grief-related themes explored through talk…
Contact lighthousegriefsupport.org/how-we-can-help/support-groups Information Peer support groups for children, youth and young adults ages 3-24 years experiencing grief after the death of someone significant in their lives. Groups are ongoing and open-ended, allowing families to stay with The Lighthouse community for as long as they need to actively explore grief in their own time. Grief-related themes explored through talk circles, games, expressive arts activities, and play, led by professional staff and trained volunteers. Groups held in welcoming, safe, home-like environment. Meet bi-weekly in evenings throughout school year. Children and youth attend separate groups according to age and developmental stage. Groups for specific types of loss available whenever possible. Concurrent peer support groups for parents and caregivers run at same time as children/youth groups. Online support groups available for those who cannot attend in-person or prefer to participate from home. Transportation assistance and devices for online groups available if needed. Program recognizes everyone grieves differently and provides flexible, developmentally-appropriate support. Service area Ontario: Halton Resource types In-person service, information Support types Bereavement services, grief support Target demographics General population, youth and families Serves children (0–12) Yes Serves youth (13–17) Yes Serves adults (18+) — Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
Trenton Military Family Resource Centre: Mental Health Team
Mental health professionals that support military family members, offering various services for adults, couples, teenagers and children
Contact trentonmfrc.ca/mental-health-services Information The MFRC has a team of mental health professionals that support military family members, offering various services for adults, couples, teenagers, and children. Service area Ontario Resource type In-person service Support type Wellness support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families Serves children (0–12) Yes Serves youth (13–17) Yes Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️ -
Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Mental Wellness Team
Offers counselling, workshops, and other in-person programs
Contact unsm.org/dept/mental-wellness Information Offers counselling, workshops, and other in-person programs. Service area Nova Scotia Resource type In-person service Support type Wellness support Target demographic Indigenous population Serves children (0–12) Yes Serves youth (13–17) Yes Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
Victim Services Toronto
Comprehensive crisis response, intervention and prevention services for victims of crime and sudden tragedy in Toronto. Services include: 24/7 crisis line providing immediate, confidential support; emotional support and crisis counseling; safety planning; police accompaniment; court support and accompaniment; assistance with victim impact statements; hospital accompaniment; referrals to community resources; emergency financial assistance for funeral costs…
Contact (416) 808-7066 | victimservicestoronto.com Information Comprehensive crisis response, intervention and prevention services for victims of crime and sudden tragedy in Toronto. Services include: 24/7 crisis line providing immediate, confidential support; emotional support and crisis counseling; safety planning; police accompaniment; court support and accompaniment; assistance with victim impact statements; hospital accompaniment; referrals to community resources; emergency financial assistance for funeral costs and immediate needs; housing support and relocation assistance; grief counseling; support for victims of homicide, sexual assault, sex trafficking, intimate partner violence, and other crimes; TEAR (Trauma Education Awareness Response) presentations in schools; Dandy the Trauma Dog support for children and youth during police interviews and court proceedings; translation and interpretation services; support for family members of victims; connection to settlement agencies and other community services. Services are free, 100% confidential, and available to all people regardless of whether they report to police. Trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach. Emergency support includes donated cell phones, grocery gift cards, and other immediate assistance. Counsellors accompany clients through the criminal justice process and provide ongoing case management. Service area Ontario: Toronto Resource types Telephone, in-person service Support types Bereavement services, grief support Target demographic General population Serves children (0–12) Yes Serves youth (13–17) Yes Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families — Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️