| Contact | redcross.ca/how-we-help/emergencies-and-disasters-in-canada/be-ready-emergency-preparedness-and-recovery/emergency-preparedness-for-older-adults |
| Information | Instructions for seniors to know what to expect, how to prepare, and where to find the information in a disaster or emergency. |
| Service area | National |
| Resource types | Information, online service |
| Support type | Psychosocial emergency preparedness |
| Target demographics | Older adults, seniors |
| Serves children (0–12) | — |
| Serves youth (13–17) | — |
| Serves adults (18+) | Yes |
| Serves families | — |
| Languages spoken | English 🍁, French ⚜️ |
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.
-
Government of Quebec: Ministry of Health and Social Services
Telephone line providing access to health and social services information, assessment, and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Contact 8-1-1 | quebec.ca/en/health/finding-a-resource/info-social-811 Information Telephone line providing access to health and social services information, assessment, and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Seniors can speak with nurses and social workers who provide: mental health assessment and guidance, crisis intervention support, information about available mental health and social services for older adults, navigation assistance to appropriate resources, and referrals to specialized services. Aims to ensure seniors receive appropriate care and support in timely manner. Service area Quebec Resource type Telephone Support types Crisis support, wellness support Target demographics Seniors, older adults Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families — Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️ -
Warm Line Ontario
Confidential and anonymous peer support service for adults who feel lonely, isolated, anxious, depressed, or in need of a friendly ear
Contact Call : (416) 960-9276 or Text : (647) 557-5882 | warmline.ca Information Confidential and anonymous peer support service for adults who feel lonely, isolated, anxious, depressed, or in need of a friendly ear. Services include phone support, text support, and online chat through their website. Not a crisis line — designed for people who need someone to talk to but are not in immediate crisis. Service area Ontario Resource types Telephone, text Support types Peer support, crisis support Target demographics Older adults, seniors Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families — Language spoken English 🍁 -
WoodGreen Community Services: Crisis Outreach Service for Seniors
Mobile crisis response team providing on-call crisis intervention and outreach for seniors with dementia, addictions, or mental illness
Contact woodgreen.org/programs/crisis-outreach-service-for-seniors Information Mobile crisis response team providing on-call crisis intervention and outreach for seniors with dementia, addictions, or mental illness. Interdisciplinary teams include social workers, nurse practitioners, behaviour consultants, and access to a geriatric psychiatrist. Interpretation services available in 100+ languages, including American Sign Language. No wait lists: initial visit typically occurs within 24–72 hours of referral. Service area Ontario: Toronto Resource type Mobile outreach Support type Crisis support Target demographics Older adults, seniors Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families — Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️