| Contact | aspr.hhs.gov/behavioral-health |
| Information | Resources and guidance for stress management after disasters from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response (ASPR). |
| Service area | International: United States 🇺🇸 |
| Resource type | Resource hub |
| Support type | Psychosocial emergency preparedness |
| Target demographics | Health care providers, public safety personnel |
| Serves children (0–12) | — |
| Serves youth (13–17) | — |
| Serves adults (18+) | Yes |
| Serves families | — |
| 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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Badge of Life Canada
Weekly online peer support group sessions for public safety personnel and/or their adult family members
Contact badgeoflifecanada.org/peer-support Information Weekly online peer support group sessions for public safety personnel and/or their adult family members. Service area National Resource type Online service Support type Peer support Target demographics 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 🍁 -
Badge of Life Canada: Crisis resources
Provides free crisis and mental health support resources for Canadian public safety personnel
Contact badgeoflifecanada.org/crisis-resources Information Provides free crisis and mental health support resources for Canadian public safety personnel. Service area National Resource type Navigation tool Support type Crisis support Target demographic Public safety personnel Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families — Language spoken English 🍁 -
Black Dog Institute: National Emergency Worker Support Service
Free mental health check, providing insights and recommendations to support PSP
Contact blackdoginstitute.org.au/education-services/national-emergency-worker-support-service Information Free mental health check, providing insights and recommendations to support PSP. Service area International: Australia 🇦🇺 Resource type Online service Support type Wellness support Target demographic Public safety personnel Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families — Language spoken English 🍁 -
Boots on the Ground Alberta
Provides first responders and military members with an anonymous helpline wherein they can receive peer support
Contact 1 (866) 724-2684 Information BOTG provides first responders and military members with an anonymous helpline from which they can receive peer support. Service area Alberta Resource type Telephone Support type Peer support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, public safety personnel Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families — Language spoken English 🍁 -
Boots on the Ground Ontario
BOTG provides first responders and military members with an anonymous helpline wherein they can receive peer support
Contact 1 (833) 677-2668 Information BOTG provides first responders and military members with an anonymous helpline wherein they can receive peer support. Service area Ontario Resource type Telephone Support type Peer support Target demographic Public safety personnel Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families — Language spoken English 🍁 -
Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment
Knowledge hub of mental health information for public safety personnel
Contact cipsrt-icrtsp.ca Information Knowledge hub of mental health information for public safety personnel. Service area National Resource type Knowledge hub Support types PTSD support, wellness support Target demographic Public safety personnel Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families — Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️ -
Lifewise NL First Responder Warm Line
Staffed by first responders who have their own experiences. Open from 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Contact 1 (709) 237-4180 Information Staffed by first responders who have their own experiences. Open from 12 p.m.–12 a.m. Service area Newfoundland and Labrador Resource type Telephone Support type Peer support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, public safety personnel, health care providers Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families — Language spoken English 🍁 -
NS First Responders Mental Health
Offers treatments, resources, and education on mental health for first responders in Nova Scotia
Contact firstrespondersmentalhealthns.com Information Offers treatments, resources, and education on mental health for first responders in NS. Service area Nova Scotia Resource type Online service Support type Wellness support Target demographics Health care providers, health care provider families, public safety personnel, public safety personnel families Serves children (0–12) Yes Serves youth (13–17) Yes Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
OSI-CAN Alberta
Free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel
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 🍁 -
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 🍁