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Mental health support services

A number of different tools and services are available to support your mental health and wellness journey.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, find immediate support.

Self-help tools

Check in with yourself, with resources you can use on your own time.

These resources can help you understand yourself better and offer strategies to manage everyday mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, relationship issues and substance use.

Need additional support? You can always reach out along the way. 

Please note: These resources are made available by third parties who have no relationship with Concordia. It is your sole responsibility to review and accept any terms of service and privacy policies prior to use (such as the apps and tracking tools). Concordia is not responsible for your use of third-party resources or for the actions of those who are responsible for them.

Phone & text support

Mental health helplines and listening services provide short-term counseling, as well as confidential, empathetic listening with no strings or follow-up required. 

Please note that services offered at Concordia are not available when the university is closed.

Referral lines can answer questions about health or psychosocial issues, or direct you to a resource in your health and social services network.

Connect directly with professional counsellors and volunteers trained in crisis response. 

  • Kids Help Phone: Connects people ages 5 - 29 with a professional counsellor. 24/7, English and French, Canada-wide: Call 1-800-668-6868
  • Crisis text line:  Text with a volunteer trained in crisis response from a secure online platform to help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment. 24/7, English, Canada and U.S.: Text HOME to 686868.

Connect with a professional for free, short-term counselling. These services also provide online resources and wellness tracking tools. 

  • EmpowerMe: Undergraduate students enrolled in the Concordia Student Union health plan can connect 24/7 with a number of professionals with various domains of expertise, including psychology, psychotherapy, social work, nutrition, etc. 24/7, Multi-lingual: Call 1-833-628-5589.
  • inConfidence: International students insured with the ISO BlueCross health plan can connect with 24/7 counselling and online wellbeing resources. 
    Chat: User ID: Concordiaiso (case sensitive); Password: inconfidence
    Call  1-877-418-2181 / TTY: 1-877-371-9978 
    App: Lifeworks (Google Play/Apple)
  • Employee Assistance Program: All Concordia employees — as well as their spouses and dependent children — can access counsellors through Concordia's Employee Assistance Program. 24/7, English: Call 1-800-663-1142.  French: Call 1-866-398-9505. (Staff & faculty only)

  • Wellness Together Canada: Provides free short-term counselling with mental health professionals, online educational resources, tools, connections to trained volunteers, group coaching, group mindfulness practice and more. Register online and complete a short survey to find resources tailored to you. This service is funded in part by the Government of Canada. 24/7, English and French, Canada: Youth text WELLNESS to 686868; adults text WELLNESS to 741741; or call 1-866-585-0445.

Connect with professionals and peers with expertise that is tailored to particular identities, needs or experiences. Services are specialized in breaking down systemic barriers to accessing care. 

For all your options, make sure to review our entire list of services, many of which also offer explicitly culturally-competent and inclusive support.

Support for Indigenous peoples

  • Hope for Wellness Helpline: Offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. 27/7, English and French. On request, phone counselling is also available in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut. Canada: Call 1-855-242-3310 or online chat. 

LGBTQ+ help-lines

  • Interligne: First response centre that provides help and information to those concerned with sexual orientation and gender diversity by phone, online chat and email. 24/7, English and French, Montreal-region: Call 514-866-0103. Toll-free: Call 1-888-505-1010

  • Project 10: Anonymous listening line promotes the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, intersexed and questioning people, ages 14 to 25. Tuesday from 12 to 6 p.m. and Thursday from 1 to 6 p.m., English and French, Montreal-region: Call 514-989-4585

  • Trans Lifeline: A grassroots hotline and non-profit organization offering direct support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community. 24/7, English and Spanish, Canada: Call 1-877-330-6366. U.S.: Call 1-877-565-8860

Support for multicultural, multi-lingual and racialized communities

  • Concordia Black Perspectives Office (BPO): Provides confidential and non-judgmental support to Concordia students who are navigating impacts of systemic racism, have been affected by anti-Black racial violence, and/or have concerns that intersect with racialization. The BPO team can explain the intervention options, offer culturally relevant support, and provide bridging and advocacy support in engaging other units if necessary. Email the office.
  • Multi-Écoute: Listening services in many languages, information and referral services, help filling out forms, translation and certification of documents, French and English courses, conversation workshops, integration workshops for immigrants and sociocultural activities. Multi-lingual, Montreal: Call 514-737-3604.
  • Vicky’s Support Line: A Black-led multilingual support line aiming to provide mental health support with a decolonial approach. Vicky’s is run by people like you who are trained to provide active listening under an anti-oppressive and anti-racist framework. Services are available in French, English, Haitian Creole and Wolof. Montreal. Schedule an appointment for a listening session.

  • Naseeha: Services available for everyone in North America, with a specific focus on Muslim youth. Receive immediate, anonymous and confidential support over the phone. 7 days a week, 12 p.m. - 12 a.m., English, Canada and U.S: Call 1-866-627-3342

Support for parents

  • Première Ressource, aide aux parents: Counselling line for parents, parental figures and children concerning family issues. Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., English and French, Montreal: Call 514-525-2573. Quebec: Call 1-866-329-4223

  • Linge parents: Support line specializing in parent-child relationships. Services are available by text, email and by phone. 7 days a week, 6 a.m. - 2 a.m., French, Quebec: Call 1-800-361-5085.

Speak to a trained peer in a non-judgmental and confidential setting. These services can help you articulate your feelings, troubleshoot a concern and can provide referrals and other resources as necessary. Peer supporters do not give advice or counselling. 

 

  • Peer Wellness Ambassadors: Wellness Ambassadors are Concordia students, offering active listening services and events and activities to connect. Montreal, with remote services, students only.

  • Concordia Student Nightline: Connect with listening services run by Concordia students for those in need of aid, support or just to talk. Visit their Facebook page for contact information and hours. 
  • The Centre for Gender Advocacy: Offers confidential and non-judgmental online peer support to Concordia students and the greater Montreal community. For more information or to register for a session, visit their website or Facebook page

  • Concordia Black Perspectives Office: Student ambassadors are trained in peer support, active listening, campus resources, and anti-discriminatory frameworks. 
  • Sexual Assualt Resource Centre (SARC): Trained peer support volunteers are available to meet one-on-one on Zoom on in-person. Please call 514-848-2424 ext. 5972 or email sarc@concordia.ca to reserve your spot in advance. 
  • Vent Over Tea: A free active listening service that allows you to speak your mind to a compassionate stranger. Conversations are confidential and there are no follow-ups or strings attached. 

Mental health appointments

If you're struggling with your mental health, don’t wait to seek support. We encourage you to review all the resources within Concordia’s network of care for timely access to services.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, click here to find immediate support.

Services for Concordians

Receive immediate support from a mental health practitioner

Tele-counselling services in Concordia's wider network of providers are free and available 24/7. These services can offer immediate short-term counselling by phone or video. Access is governed by Concordia’s health insurance plans. Tele-counselling is a great first step in addressing your mental health needs

  • For undergraduate students enrolled in the CSU health plan
    EmpowerMe
    24/7, Multi-lingual: Call 1-833-628-5589.
  • For international students enrolled in the ISO BlueCross health plan
  • inConfidence
    Chat: User ID: Concordiaiso (case-sensitive); Password: inconfidence
    Call  1-877-418-2181 / TTY: 1-877-371-9978
     
    App: Lifeworks (Google Play/Apple)
  • For all Concordia employees, as well as their spouses and dependant children
    Employee Assistance Program
    English: Call 1-800-663-1142.  French: Call 1-866-398-9505

  • For anyone in Canada, funded in part by the Government of Canada
    Wellness Together Canada
    24/7, English and French: Youth text WELLNESS to 686868; adults text WELLNESS to 741741; or call 1-866-585-0445.

Clinical providers at Concordia

If you are experiencing persistent mental health concerns or a challenging life situation, Concordia clinicians can provide short-term counselling, mental health assessments and treatment plans.

Counselling and Psychological Services: Licensed psychologists and psychotherapists provide short-term counselling to Concordia students residing in Quebec.

  • Please note that Counselling and Psychological Services accepts a limited number of new clients each week. As there may be wait times for services, we strongly encourage you to consider all mental health services available to you, including 24/7 tele-counselling lines which can provide immediate support. 

Family doctors and psychiatrists work together to provide clinical assessment, diagnosis, and (if necessary) prescription and medication management. In many instances, a family doctor can address your clinical needs. 
  • Concordia Health Services: Family doctors can provide mental health assessments, and if needed, refer to a psychiatrist for specific assessments and treatments. Available to students, staff and faculty. 

Services in the community

Mental health clinics in the community can provide specialized services and longer-term support. Concordia’s health insurance plans offer coverage for many services. Please contact the external clinics directly for more information including rates and wait times.

Find a provider in the community

The following clinics offer sliding scale services according to income or reduced rates for students. Please consult their websites for more information about intake, wait-times, and rates.
  • Medipsy: Offers low fee service options, for example self-help programs with the assistance of a clinician, as well as psychotherapy provided by supervised interns. 
  • The Lavender Collective: Regroups different providers from racialized communities in Montreal; caters to BIPOC communities.

 

  • Wellness Together Canada offers virtual support and accountability groups led by trained facilitators or counselors. There are groups that focus on mental health, addiction issues, general behaviour change, and more. After signing in, click on Tools and Programs, and filter for Support groups.
  • Y Mind Youth is a free seven-week mental wellness program for young people who are aged 18 to 30 and struggling with mild-to-moderate anxiety or stress. This free program brings young people who have similar thoughts and feelings together. Participants learn evidence-based skills from trained mental health professionals. They report feeling reduced anxiety, increased well-being and feeling less alone following the program. Open to everyone, including international students.

 

 

Lumino Health (within Canada): Find healthcare providers in your province or territory. Use of the search tool is free, but providers do charge fees for their services.

Insurance coverage for mental health services

Concordia’s health insurance plans offer coverage for mental health services. Please review your plan for more information.

 

Addiction and substance use

Self-evaluation 

The links below provide validated questionnaires that can help you identify if you or someone you care about may have a problem with substance misuse. If you score +, or if doing the screening raises any questions or concerns, book an appointment with a Health Services nurse, or see the resources below for support.

Comparing your behaviour to reliable guidelines can also help you assess your substance use and gambling behaviour and make decisions about what you would like to do next.

Fact sheets and self-help resources

  • Rethinking drinking from the National Institutes of Health: Research-based information that can help you examine your drinking habits and their effects on your health, and find ways to reduce your risks, or take steps to cut-down or quit.

Within Canada 

In Quebec

Attending meetings can provide many benefits in helping you work through substance misuse, including support from others with similar struggles and the opportunity to build healthier social networks.

Find evaluation and treatment programs for alcohol, drugs, gambling and gaming, including urgent care and detox/rehab programs.

French-language programs

English-language programs

  • Foster Addiction Rehabilitation Centre: Specialized addiction rehabilitation services aim to prevent, reduce and treat the problems related to alcohol, drugs (including prescription medications), gambling, compulsive buying, and internet use. Services are open to English-speaking Montrealers and Montérégie residents. Several points-of-service.
  • Chabad Lifeline: Offers a full range of treatment options for people struggling with substance and behavioural addictions and their family members. Services are immediate and offered at no charge to those in need.

Bilingual programs

  • MUHC Addictions Unit: A hospital-based addictions service that provides a continuum of care for adults with drug/alcohol and mental health disorders, including inpatient and outpatient services. 
  • Portage: Provides drug addiction rehabilitation treatment, based on the therapeutic community approach.
  • Concordia staff and faculty who are eligible for Health Benefits can access the University's Drug and Alcohol Recovery Program (employee sign-in is required on Cspace to access contact information)

Supporting others

If you or someone else is experiencing an emergency, dial 9-1-1 or consult our resources.

Resources for everyone

  • Red Cross Psychological First Aid: This course equips learners in developing a personal understanding of the effects of stress, loss, trauma and grief on others, with emphasis on self-care and personal protection.
  • AMI-Quebec: Offers free programming for people living with mental illness and those in their circle of support, including friends, family and partners. AMI-Quebec helps caregivers manage the effects of mental illness through support, education, guidance and advocacy. 
  • Be There - Jack.org: A comprehensive online resource for young people to learn how to support each other through mental health struggles, created in consultation with over 1,400 people from across Canada. 
  • Conversation Starter: Information sheet to help youth support friends struggling with mental health, developed by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Game Changers, a program designed to help young people feel more comfortable talking about health, mental health, seeking help and supporting friends.

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