Are you or someone else in immediate danger?

Find A Helpline logo

Helplines in Canada.

Everyone

9-8-8 is a three-digit suicide prevention helpline that provides live support by phone and text to everyone in Canada. It’s...


Text

Call

All topics
Youth
Children

Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. We offer professional counselling, information and referrals...


Text

Call

Online Chat

Adults

Wellness Together Canada offers counselling (phone or video) and crisis support (texting), 24/7. Services are free and offered...


Text

Call

LGBTQ+
Women
Indigenous support

WAVAW 24-Hour Crisis and Information Line provides 24/7, free and confidential support by phone and online chat. We help the...


Text

Call

Online Chat

All topics
Youth

Youthspace.ca is a free online crisis & emotional support chat service for youth under 30 across Canada. We don’t give advice...


Text

Online Chat

Faith-based
Women

Nisa Helpline is a Project of the Nisa Foundation. We are a registered not-for-profit Canadian charity that offers a free,...


Call

Everyone

7 days a week at Naseeha Mental Helpline, we answer calls from around the world from Muslim and non-muslims. Naseeha Mental...


Text

Call

LGBTQ+

LGBT National Hotline offers free and confidential support by phone and online chat. We are here for the LGBTQ+ community in...


Call

Online Chat

All topics
Everyone

The Listening Ear is dedicated to providing free, compassionate and confidential support over phone. We are here to help...


Call

All topics
Everyone
Warmline

Certified Listeners Society is dedicated to providing free and confidential support over online chat. We exist to help everyone...


Online Chat

Everyone

The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is a confidential, multilingual service, operating 24/7 to connect victims and survivors...


Call

Online Chat

Everyone

National Eating Disorder Information Centre offers free and confidential support and information over phone and online chat. We...


Call

Online Chat

Women

The National Abortion Hotline is the largest national, toll-free, multi-lingual Hotline for abortion provider information and...


Call

Online Chat

Indigenous support

Indian Residential School Crisis Line is a national service for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their...


Call

Illustration of two people inside separate phones working together to bandage a wounded heart, representing online empathy

Get free crisis counseling support for your mental health from a hotline or helpline in Canada

If you are struggling with your mental health or concerned about a loved one, consider contacting a helpline for quick and free support. 15 helplines and hotlines are available in Canada.

It's common to feel some anxiety about contacting a helpline. Learn more about what helplines offer so you can decide if it's right for you.

What are helplines or hotlines?

Helplines offer immediate mental health support to the public for free. When you contact a helpline, you will receive confidential counseling support either over the phone, text message or online chat. In some countries, helplines are also known as hotlines or crisis lines.

How will a helpline or hotline support me?

Whether you just need someone to listen to you, or you're looking for more practical advice, a helpline responder can support you in the way you need. They will commonly ask questions to help you process your emotions, and may help you form a plan so you can feel more in control.

If I contact a helpline, who will I talk to?

When you contact a helpline, you'll commonly speak to a volunteer or counselor who has been trained in crisis counseling or active listening, and is equipped to support you. Some helplines are operated by people who have a similar experience to the issue or topic that the helpline supports.

What issues can I talk to a helpline about?

Helplines are there for anyone who might be in need of free support for mental and behavioral health problems. If you are struggling with something specific, such as suicide, depression, anxiety, or domestic violence, there are often helplines that cater specifically to these issues. You may also be able to contact a helpline related to your demographic, such as helplines that are specifically for teenagers, veterans or the LGBTQ+ community. A lot of helplines provide support for a variety of mental and behavioral health issues, so you can talk with them about anything that is concerning you.

Do helplines and hotlines support with thoughts of suicide?

Most countries have a suicide hotline or suicide prevention line (often called a lifeline or crisis line) available 24/7. These helplines provide compassionate support for people who might be having feelings of wanting to die or kill themselves. Commonly, suicide hotlines will also support anyone, regardless of what they are going through.

Can I contact a helpline for support with a person I'm worried about?

It can be worrying when a friend or family member is struggling with their mental health or experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Helplines will support you to better help your loved one, whether that is actions you could take to support them, or external support they might be able to access.

I'm in Canada. What hotlines and helplines are available to me?

In Canada, there are 15 hotlines and helplines that support with a range of topics.

Today, there are over 2,000 helplines and hotlines across the world. While they may support different topics and populations, each and every one of them share the same goal: to help those experiencing emotional or mental distress to get through the current pain and find a meaningful path forward. When you feel alone, hopeless or stuck, having a conversation on a helpline can help you feel heard, supported and empowered.


Find A Helpline brand mark with two chat bubbles in a heart shape

Made with ♡ by ThroughLine in Aotearoa, New Zealand.


Copyright © 2024 ThroughLine Limited
All rights reserved.