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Youth resources

70% of persons living with mental illness see their symptoms start before the age of 18. Youth aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group. An estimated 1.2 million children and youth are affected by a mental illness. It’s estimated over 75% of them will not receive appropriate treatment. Promotion, prevention and early intervention initiatives show positive results.
If you or someone you know are in crisis, please call 911. For more resources or mental health concerns, contact COAST 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-866-550-5205.

Crisis Support PDF for age 16+

Pathstones contact information PDF for under 18

You are not alone.

Web Based and Apps for Mental Health Physical Health After School Activities

Other Resources Fee-For-Service Counseling

Youth Mental Health Videos facilitated by Niagara North Mental Health Team

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Mental Health

Suicide Crisis Helpline Call or text 9-8-8. If you are thinking about suicide, or you’re worried about someone else, we want to help.
Call or text 9-8-8 toll free, any time — lines are open 24/7/365

Kids help phone peer to peer support forum (ages 12-26). Can also call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868 available 24/7

Access Line Niagara/COAST 1-888-550-5205 is a 24/7, confidential telephone support for ages 16+ for mental health and addictions. This free service will connect you with a specially trained community access worker or volunteer to help get you appropriate mental health or addiction services. You can call yourself or on behalf of someone else. They are not a crisis line. 

Pathstones Mental Health services (up to age 18). They have 9 walk-in clinics around Niagara Mon-Fri 1-800-263-4944

Niagara Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), offers a variety of programs and services that assist individuals 16 years of age and older.

Youth Wellness Hubs  (call to register 905-229-9946)

  • Ages 12-25
  • Same day, free counselling (call to schedule)
  • Peer support groups (call to schedule)
  • Counselling/Peer support appointments can be virtual, by phone or in person (can sometimes assist with transportation too)
  • 1:1 casual peer support in the hub space. Support with emotional needs, life skills, social skills, stress management. You can also come in and do more fun things.
  • Counselling: SFT (no more than 6 sessions). First they attend a same-day appt, then they can be seen by the same counsellor up to 6 sessions total. Then after 1-2 months they can return for more sessions (this is not a strict criteria, they try to be flexibile)
    • Same day counselling is not guaranteed
    • No waitlist currently (Dec 6/22)
  • Drop in activities change month-to-month. Sign up for email updates here.

Contact Niagara can guide and connect you to a range of community Mental Health, Developmental and Autism resources for Children, Youth, and their Families

Niagara Falls CHC

STEP Empowerment Centre Niagara offers free counselling for youth ages 12-24 as well as a drop-in centre

CASON Community Addiction Services of Niagara offer programs for youth under 25, family services and treatment options

National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) We believe that through open, supportive dialogue, we can help break the shame, stigma and silence that affect nearly 1 million Canadians living with a diagnosable eating disorder — and the millions of others who are struggling with food and weight preoccupation.

Niagara 211 (can also call 2-1-1, available 24/7) Central resource options such as:

  • health services and supports
  • financial and social assistance
  • housing and utility help
  • children and youth services
  • food assistance and meal programs
  • seniors’ services and home care
  • government program assistance
  • parenting and family programs
  • disability support programs
  • newcomer services
  • volunteer organizations
  • and so much more!

Powerhouse Project (905-397-4201)

For young caregivers (children who are caring for adults/other children in their families)

  • Programs are conducted in school or online at home.
  • Programs can include
  • Summer camp
  • Weekly respite
  • Life skills
  • Individual/group counselling
  • Programs for teens, or young adults

Web based and Apps

Sunnybrook youtube video on box breathing

Mental Health Literacy offers many informative videos and is a wealth of information, a few topics are listed here:

Togetherall (formerly bigwhitewall) is a safe, anonymous, online community to improve mental health and well being

Finch It’s a self-care app, you get a little bet and get points for doing self-care activities/ reaching your goals

Bounce Back ages 15-18, you can design your very own mood-lifting program, or work with a trained coach over the phone

Wellness Together offering support for topics such as managing low mood, managing substance use and strengthening relationships

Smiling Mind offering supports for youth in Australia but also have online supports and an app for daily mindfulness and meditation

Anxiety Canada is a registered charity and non-profit organization created to raise awareness about anxiety and support access to proven resources and treatment. They are a leader in developing free, online self-help, and evidence-based tools to help manage anxiety. They offer services such as:

Mental health services for children and youth, Government of Ontario

Physical Health

Meant2Prevent Type 2 Diabetes prevention for children and youth

After School

Young Caregivers Association Young caregivers help their family members in various ways by caring for their siblings or providing
personal, emotional, or financial support to a parent or grandparent.

Boys and Girls club of Niagara offers The Teen Zone program, catered to those 13-18 years of age and promotes healthy lifestyle choices, goal setting, skill development, and connections to others in a safe and supportive way

Kiwanis Aquatics Centre offers many swimming options including PA day swims,

  • swim to survive school programs aimed at preventing drowning
  • swimming lessons for all ages, as well as leadership courses for those looking to be an instructor

YMCA of Niagara

  • ProKids can assist in covering some or all the cost of recreational/cultural programs if you: Live in Niagara, have a child between 0 to 17 years of age and have a household taxable annual income below $40,000
  • Youth Action Free recreation programs aged 10-14
  • Beyond the Bell is an after school program for grade 2-4, by referral
  • Youth Gambling Awareness program for ages 8-24 to identify and deal with potentially addictive behaviours like gambling
  • YMCA Newcomer Information Centre, St. Catharines: 905-684-3500, Niagara Falls: 289-296-8400
  • Both locations can help with:
    • Housing/shelters
    • Education/credentials assessments
    • Language assessments/classes
    • Legal/social services
    • Child/family/youth resources

TCAG Thorold

After School Matters is a network of free after-school programs for low-income households 905-688-5050 ext. 2104 run by United Way

Brock University Youth University programs

Other Resources

Project REWIND restorative justice program for students in elementary/secondary school

Women’s Place of South Niagara Offering shelter and assistance for women, youth and LGBTQ+ Can call or text 24/7 905-356-5800

Niagara Region Emergency shelter information

Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre (905-685-6589)

  • Newcomer Youth programming (13-24years)
  • Tutoring, cooking, professional development, workshops, mental health
  • ESL training
  • Educational, Life skill, and Mental Health Workshops
  • Chat line through their website
  • Mental health services during weekdays
  • Niagara Falls, Welland and Fort Erie are by appointment only.

McMaster Children’s Hospital

The Raft

  • Youth Hostel
  • After school programs
  • Resource Centre

Fee-for-service counselling

ATTCH Niagara (905-684-9333)

  • $120 for 50 minutes. Potential fee subsidy is available
  • 1:1, Group, Children/Youth or Family Therapy
  • EMDR, arts therapy, play therapy

Niagara Stress and Trauma Clinic (905-687-6866)

  • For fee service ($115-135). Limited sliding scale/pro-bono fee spots
  • EMDR, 1:1 therapy, children/youth.

CBT Niagara: 905-988-1797

  • Not publicly funded, minimal subsidies available
  • 1:1 counselling varies between $150-225 a session depending on the therapist matched with and EHB available to the client.
  • No group therapy available (unless you are a first-responder).
  • Waitlists vary depending on the therapist. Submit an intake form through their website and someone will follow up with you.

Anger Awareness Program (through John Howard Society)

  • 10-week Anger Awareness Program
  • Helps to manage anger and identify triggers
  • Pre-registration is required
  • $150 registration fee applies, payment plans available (minimum $75 due at time of registration).
  • Typically there is a 3 week turn-around time between registering and starting the group.

Wellness Together Canada (1-866-585-0445, open 24/7)

  • All services are free, but you must be over age of majority
  • Immediate counselling available (press 1 to speak with counsellor, 24/7)
  • During this immediate session the on-call counsellor can set up 3-4 weekly sessions for on-going support (you must ask)
  • Solution Focused Therapy lens only

Nomina Integrated Health (St. Catharines- 289-438-1006)

  • Single Session Counselling only (not walk-in)
  • Booking 1 time counselling appts
  • Can take up to 30 days to have an appt (not crisis)
  • Call between 10am-3pm on Tues+Thurs