How-To-Guide: Access Mental Health Support
How to Access Mental Health Support
If it’s an Emergency
In Canada
Call 9-1-1
For a mental health crisis, call or text the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8
Outside of Canada
Need Emergency Help While Travelling Abroad?
Global Affairs Canada can direct you to trusted local resources.
Non-Emergency
Available to Anyone
If you don’t have extended medical benefits:
If you have provincial health coverage only, you can talk to your doctor (or any doctor at a walk-in clinic if you don’t have a family doctor) and ask for support and/or a referral to a psychiatrist.
You can book directly with any psychology or counselling practitioner of your choice on a fee-for-service basis.
You can find services close to you by calling or texting 2-1-1 or visiting 221.ca.
If you have extended medical benefits:
Check with your benefits provider to see if you have coverage for psychology or counselling services.
Check the policy requirements for the types of practitioners they will cover.
Provincial Team Athletes
Depending on your province and your sport, you may be eligible for mental health support through your provincial team if you are carded at Provincial level. You could ask your Provincial Team coach for more information.
All of Canada
You may be eligible to request services (free or fee-for-service) through the Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Sport.
Eligibility: 16 years or older, Canadian citizen or permanent resident, competitive or high-performance athlete, experiencing mental health challenges
Quebec
In Quebec, provincial athletes can get help through Sport’Aide
Phone and SMS: 1-833-211-AIDE or 1-833-245-HELP
Email:
Facebook:
Provincial Team Coaches and Staff
You may be eligible to request services (free or fee-for-service) through the Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Sport
Eligibility: 16 years or older, Canadian citizen or permanent resident, competitive or high-performance coach or staff member, experiencing mental health challenges
National Team Athletes
AAP carded athletes have access to subsidized mental health care through Game Plan (included up to 2 years following retirement/loss of carding). The service is confidential, secure, and you may be eligible for up to $1,000 of coverage per year. Talk to a counsellar now:
1-844-240-2990 (24/7/365, through LifeWorks)
Email:
National Team Coaches and Staff Members
Game Plan provides mental health supports through LifeWorks (free) and mental health practitioners who know sport (fee-for-service)
If you have extended medical benefits through your sports organization, they may cover some or all fees.
Canadian Safe Sport Program
Sport Integrity Canada has engaged the Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Sport (CCMHS) to provide independent mental health services to participants involved in the Canadian Safe Sport Program (CSSP) reporting process.
Individuals eligible for the program include:
- Participants of the CSSP who have experienced maltreatment in sport that has been reported to the CSSP and where Sport Integrity Canada has jurisdiction.
- Participants of the CSSP who have been reported to Sport Integrity Canada for potentially engaging in a prohibited behaviour where Sport Integrity Canada has jurisdiction.
You must be at least 16 years of age to access the CSSP Mental Health Services Program. If you are under 16 and require support, please contact Sport Integrity Canada for information about other specialized support.
