Where to Get Help

If this is a mental health emergency and safety is the immediate concern and help is needed now – Call 911 or go to your hospital emergency department.

Lakehead Public Schools offers school social work services and mental health resources for students, families and staff to assist with challenges, transitions, and issues. Please visit the following links to learn more. If a student, family, or staff member needs help, please reach out – someone is here to help.

CMHA Crisis Response

If you need to talk to someone right away please call or text 807-346-8282

Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. They offer professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French.

By Phone – You can reach a Kids Help Phone counsellor 24/7 at 1-800-668-6868.

By Text – Need help now? Text CONNECT to 686868

Live Chat – Kids Help Phone’s Live Chat hours are temporarily reduced so we can provide more timely access to support through our other services. Live Chat is currently open daily from midnight to 7:00 am.

https://kidshelpphone.ca/live-chat

RiseUp powered by Kids Help Phone is a national, 24/7, bilingual e-mental health support service for Black youth. The service is free and available from coast to coast to coast. Text “Rise” to 686868

Thunder Bay & District Mental Health Walk In/Talk In Clinics

Children’s Centre Thunder Bay, in partnership with Thunder Bay Counselling, offers single-session counselling services. This service is available to children, youth, and adults of all ages, as well as to couples, parents, and families. No appointment is necessary during walk-in hours. Clients speak with professional counsellors on a first-come, first-served basis, with no fees for service.

Some of the issues that can be discussed include, but are not limited to abuse, budgeting and debt management, depression and anxiety, family conflict, relationship issues, school issues, separation and divorce, sexual abuse or assault, stress, substance use, and bereavement issues.

In addition to our walk-in/talk-in clinic, we have partnered with 8 service agencies to enhance access to free mental health counselling clinics. These services are now available 5 days a week across the city and district of Thunder Bay.

Learn more – Children’s Centre Thunder Bay

Home – Hope for Wellness Helpline

The Hope for Wellness Helpline is available to all Indigenous people across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are reachable by telephone and online ‘chat’ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Both telephone and online chat services are available in English and French. Telephone support is also available upon request in:

Cree;
Ojibway (Anishinaabemowin);
Inuktitut.

(Note: Supports in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut are not available 24/7, so you may need to call in to find out the next time that a language-speaker will be available.)

Hope for Wellness – 1-855-242-3310

YouthLine – Confidential, Non-Judgemental & Informed 2SLGBTQ+ Support in Ontario

LGBT YouthLine provides affirming, anonymous peer support and resources for 2SLGBTQ+ youth across Ontario. LGBT YouthLine is an anti-racist, youth-led organization that connects 2SLGBTQ+ youth (29 and under) across Ontario to resources and community through peer support, training, advocacy, and referrals.

LGBT Youth line (Text) 647-694-4275

Naseeha Mental Health

Seeking support shouldn’t be a source of fear or shame. At Naseeha, we’ve built a space where support is always available—whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, lost, or unsure. Our Muslim professionals meet you where you are, offering sincere advice and care without judgment. Whether you need a listening ear or expert guidance, we are here to support you every step of the way. Naseeha provides our community with the tools needed to address mental health. With our confidential helpline, our youth receives immediate, anonymous, and confidential support over the phone 24/7.

Neesha Mental Health 1-866-627-3342

City and District of Thunder Bay Youth Wellness Hub

A safe, welcoming space offering Integrated Youth Services (IYS) for young people all across City and District of Thunder Bay aged 12 to 25 and their families looking for mental health care, support with substance use concerns, and more. Services are free of charge, available on walk-in or appointment, and no health card is required. Please see the link for an updated calendar of events and clinical/walk in services.

The Hub is located at 1134 Roland St. The building front faces Balmoral St. along the same block as the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and The Keg.

Thunder Bay Youth Wellness Hub (807) 624-2025

Mental Health Resources for Parents/Caregivers

School Mental Health Ontario – By Your Side

It can be hard to know how you can best support your child’s mental health, and just as challenging to know how to help when you notice concerns. The By Your Side parent/caregiver hub was developed by Ontario mental health professionals, school staff, and parents/caregivers to support you in this. To provide a trusted space for you to find identity-affirming, culturally responsive, evidence-informed resources about child and youth mental health and addictions.

smho-smso.ca

Children’s Mental Health Ontario

Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) represents Ontario’s publicly funded Child and Youth Mental Health Centres. We advocate for investments, policies, and programs for children, youth, and families seeking mental health services in Ontario. Our goal is to promote a coordinated and high-quality system of care that puts children, youth and families first.

cmho.org

Kids Grief.ca

Kids Grief is a free online resource that helps parents support their children when someone in their life is dying or has died. It equips parents with the words and confidence to help children grieve life’s losses in healthy ways.

https://kidsgrief.ca/

Mental Health Presentations for Parents and Caregivers

Anxiety 101

Emotional Regulation

Need Help Now.ca

If you (or a friend, peer or sibling) have been negatively impacted by a sexual picture/video being shared by peers, we are here to help. The NeedHelpNow website is designed to provide youth (13 to 17 years old) with practical steps to regain control over the situation. This includes information about contacting websites/online services to request a picture/video be removed, dealing with peers who may have seen or be sharing the content, the importance of emotional support and information on certain criminal offences. The site also provides resources for parents and safe adults who are assisting youth involved in these types of instances.

needhelpnow.ca

School Social Work Services

Elementary and Secondary School Services

Individual Clinical Services are provided for students throughout the school calendar year for elementary and high schools. Our model focuses on brief, solution focused problem-solving methods to help promote resilience and coping with the goal of enhancing social emotional learning skills and success in the classroom. Referred students are provided with approximately 5 sessions if individual counselling with a registered social worker at the school. If your elementary age child is interested in individual services, please contact your school principal. For high school students, visit your student success office.