If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the following mental health and addiction emergencies, you should go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 9-1-1 if you are unable to get to the hospital safely (for example if you have taken an overdose).
- Thinking about ending your life or have attempted to end your life
- Thinking about hurting others or have hurt someone
- Experiencing voices commanding you to hurt yourself or others
- Making choices that put you in serious danger
- Not being able to care for yourself, which puts you at risk
- Experiencing serious medication side effects such as swollen tongue, difficulty swallowing, unusual eye movements, severe muscle rigidity, etc.
- Thinking about or have taken a drug overdose
- Consuming excessive quantities of alcohol and combining this with prescription or other medications.
- If you call 9-1-1, you will be taken to the St. Catharines Site Emergency Department except when medical issues require immediate care at the hospital nearest to your residence.
More information about Niagara Health's Mental Health and Addictions Program can be found here.
Services available in the community
If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, there are a number of services available to assist you in the Niagara region. Examples of crisis situations include:
- Relationship/family issues
- Housing problems
- Occupational issues
- Financial issues
- Bereavement and grief reactions
- Substance and alcohol use
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Safe Bed Program
The Safe Bed Program provides 24/7 short-term residential crisis support for individuals age 16 or older who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
The program offers crisis counseling and a safe therapeutic environment for men and women to stay for a short term as an alternative to hospitalization.
Program staff work with individuals to resolve their crises and link them with available supports in the community.
Referrals can be made by therapists, counselors, physicians, psychiatrists, crisis workers, advocates, or any other professionals with a working knowledge of the individual’s current situation and relevant history. In some cases where enough information is already known, a self-referral may be considered.
Location: 15 Wellington St., St. Catharines. Call 905-641-5254 for more information or to make a referral.Visit www.cmha.ca
COAST (Crisis Outreach and Support Team) Niagara
- Provides 24/7 crisis line services.
- Mental health professionals work as a team in partnership with police officers who are specially trained to work with individuals with mental health and addictions issues who are in crisis.
- Information is collected over the phone by a qualified health professional and if needed, an outreach mobile team will assess the person experiencing the mental health crisis in their community.
- Ongoing telephone support and/or referral to appropriate follow-up services may be recommended.
- COAST services are available for individuals with mental health, substance use and social issues such as homelessness.
- COAST has a Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) team that assists older adults with cognitive impairments due to mental health problems, addictions, dementia or other neurological conditions who are in crisis.
- Call toll free: 1-866-550-5205
Community Addiction Services ofNiagara (CASON)
- Same day services available. For more information please contact 905-684-1183
- Services are designed to help individuals and their relatives/significant others with alcohol, drug and gambling problems to obtain effective treatment.
- Services include assessment, individualized treatment planning, referrals to appropriate resources, counseling, intensive three week day treatment program, supportive housing and treatment aftercare groups
- Location: 60 James Street, Suite 401, St. Catharines, ON, L2R 7E7
Visit www.cason.ca
Distress Centre Niagara
- Provides 24/7 free, confidential telephone crisis support and intervention for anyone in the Niagara region.
- St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Area: 905-688-3711
- Port Colborne, Wainfleet and Area: 905-734-1212
- Fort Erie and Area: 905-382-0689
- Grimsby, West Lincoln: 905-563-6674
Oak Centre
- Oak Centre is a psychosocial rehabilitation program following the clubhouse approach for people with serious and ongoing mental health issues.
- Services are available for individuals 16 years of age and older.
- Location: 24 Dorothy St., Welland, ON L3B 3V7. Telephone, 905-788-3010.
Visit www.oakcentre.ca
Kids’Help Phone
- Kids Help Phone is a free, anonymous and confidential 24/7 phone and on-line professional counseling service for youth.
- Call toll free: 1-800-668-6868
Visit www.kidshelpphone.ca
Pathstone Mental Health Crisis Services
- A mobile crisis intervention service providing immediate telephone counseling and, if necessary, on-site crisis intervention in the home, school, hospital, or other community location.
- Services are available 24/7 for children and youth up to the age of 18 and their families.
- Counselors have access to psychiatric and psychologist consultation.
- Information will initially be collected over the phone and an on-site intervention will be organized if assessed as appropriate.
- Call toll free 1-800-263-4944
Women, Babies & Children Emergency and Urgent Care
Compliments or concerns?
Your feedback is vital to help us make your experience the best it can possibly be. Have a question or concern with care at Niagara Health? Please contact Patient Relations by email at patientrelations@niagarahealth.on.ca or call 905.378.4647 ext. 44423.
