Struggling with mental health, addiction, or gambling issues? ConnexOntario offers 24/7 access to free, confidential support.
Dealing with a mental health issue or a gambling or substance addiction can feel very lonely. Not knowing where to seek help can make it even more difficult. ConnexOntario aims to ensure that no one goes it alone.
Funded by the Ontario government, ConnexOntario provides 24/7 access, 365 days a year, to reliable information about mental health, gambling, and addiction services for children, youth, adults, and seniors.
Instead of using Google to search for appropriate services, Ontario residents can access accurate, reliable information on services that are right in their community from a database of more than 5,000 programs.
Services available in more than 130 languages
ConnexOntario is free and available through confidential phone, chat, texting, and email and can provide service in more than 130 languages, including live translation of web chats and text messages.
When you place a call or send a message to ConnexOntario, you’re connected with a trained professional who asks for information about your concerns to provide the right support. They listen without judgment and then recommend or refer to local programs, such as treatment services, crisis lines, self-help groups, or distress centres. Sometimes you’re referred directly to a service, while others receive contact information and help with the referral process.
Most of the programs are funded by the Government of Ontario. Team members will also listen, offer support and basic education, and help you get started with coping strategies.
New user-friendly website features blogs, service directory
A recent revamp has also made the ConnexOntario website more user-friendly. It features blogs, a service directory, and information on its partnerships, such as Good2Talk, which is a free, confidential helpline that provides professional counselling, mental health and addictions information, and connections to local resources for post-secondary students.
ConnexOntario also aims to help governments, educators, researchers, and mental health professionals improve services across the province. With the largest, most comprehensive mental health, gambling, and addiction services database in the province, ConnexOntario provides data health planners to identify system trends and inform the ministry about service gaps.
The information assists health systems, governments, and policymakers in developing mental health, gambling, and addiction resources. The service has also recently updated its database inclusion criteria to reflect the province’s diverse population and help ensure Ontarians receive culturally sensitive care.
This collaboration with community and government organizations also ensures the ConnexOntario team has the most up-to-date information on program wait times and the availability of new services.
No matter how difficult your situation may be, ConnexOntario is available to help and to provide a safe, non-judgmental space to share your concerns and ease your path to recovery and well-being.
If you or a loved one would like to get 24/7 health care information and access to free and confidential support and services, call 1-866-531-2600, text “connex” to 247247, or chat at connexontario.ca (standard data and text rates may apply).
