Help Lines

911 Emergency - (24 hour) Access to all types of emergency services including police, fire and ambulance.

*OPP Emergencies - (24 hour) Province wide.  In case of emergencies on the highway when using a cell phone, you may dial this number.

Toronto Police Services - (24 hour) All types of police assistance for non-emergencies.

Sexual Assault Care Centre - The Scarborough Hospital - Birchmount Campus - (24 hour) Specialised nurses on-call through emergency department.  Medical and emotional care for victims of sexual assaults 12 years and older, male and female.

The Hospital For Sick Children - Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect - (24 hour) Specialised nurses and doctors on-call for children who have been physically or sexually assaulted.  Go to the Emergency Department. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. - Fri.

Children's Aid Society of Toronto - Protection services for children under 16 years of age who may have been or are at risk for physical, sexual, emotional harm and neglect.  Provides prevention programs for children and their families.  9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. - Fri.  Answering service after hours.

Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto - Operates as Children's Aid Society for the Catholic community.  9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. - Fri.  Answering service after hours.

Jewish Family and Child Service - (24 hour) Operates as Children's Aid Society for the Jewish community.  Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon.-Thurs, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday's.  Answering service after hours.

Native Child and Family Services of Toronto - Operates as Children's Aid Society for the Aboriginal community.  9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. - Fri.

211 Toronto - (24 hour) Information about community, social, health and government services in Toronto. Free, confidential and available in many languages.

Anishnawbe Health Toronto, Mental Health Unit - (24 hour) Crisis line, counselling and advocacy services.  Will provide phone counselling or meet in community.  Mobile crisis service when necessary.  For males and females all ages.

Assaulted Women's Help Line - (24 hour) Telephone support and counselling available in several languages.  Information and referral to shelters, legal services etc.

Distress Centre - (24 hour) Trained volunteers provide telephone support and counselling.  Referrals to professional or emergency services.  Phones often busy, so keep trying.

Femaide - (24 hour) Telephone crisis counselling, information and support for French speaking women.  Available in the central-south and south-western regions of Ontario, including the GTA.

Gerstein Centre - (24 hour) Non-medical crisis intervention for adults 16 years and older who are or have been involved with the mental health system.  Telephone counselling, problem-solving and referrals.  Mobile response in the home or other community setting, if necessary.

Integrated Crisis Service - (24 hour) Crisis line and mobile response team will provide assistance to adults 16 years and older who have a mental illness.  Support to families and referrals to mental health and other community services.  Leave a message, they will return your call.

Kids Help Phone - (24 hour) Canada-wide telephone counselling, information and referral service for children and youth.

Street Helpline - (8am-12pm) Information and referral services for the homeless.  All counsellors were at one time homeless.  

Toronto Area Gays Lesbian Phone Line and Crisis Counselling - Telephone peer counselling.  7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Mon. - Fri.

Toronto Rape Crisis Centre - (24 hour) Phones answered by answering service.  Counsellors return call promptly.  All services directed toward survivors.  Office open Mon.-Fri. 9:30a.m. to 5:00 pm

Women's Sexual Assault Help Line of York Region - (24 hour) Crisis line for sexually assaulted/abused females, over the age of 16.  After hours answering service, calls returned promptly.

1st Stop Woodlawn - Specialized shelter for women 16-25 years, emergency shelter for mature women of all ages.

Anduhyaun (Toronto) - Emergency shelter for abused Native women, will accept non-Native women when space is available.  Children welcome.  Boys accepted until the age of 12.  Counselling available.

Covenant House - Help for homeless youth, including food, shelter, medical care, education, and employment assistance.

Emily Stowe Shelter for Women (Scarborough) - 24 hour emergency phone line.  Referrals and assistance in getting welfare, housing, legal aid, and court accompaniment.  Supervised activities for children.

Ernestine's Women's Shelter (Etobicoke) - Counselling and advocacy services. Children welcome.

Eva's Place #1 - Emergency shelter for youth 16-21 years old.  Counselling and assistance with employment, education and housing available.

Eva's Place Satellite Shelter for Youth #2 - Emergency shelter providing harm reduction services for youth 16-24 years old, on first come-first serve basis.

Interval House (Toronto) - 24 hour crisis line.  Counselling and advocacy services. Children welcome.

Julliette's Place (Scarborough) - Counselling and advocacy services. Provides emergency short-term shelter.  Children welcome.

North York Women's Shelter - Counselling and advocacy services. Children welcome.

Second Base - (Scarborough) Youth Shelter - Provides temporary shelter for youth 16-21 years.  Programs include health, education, employment and housing assistance.

The Redwood Shelter (Toronto) - Counselling and advocacy services. Children welcome.

Youth Without Shelter (Etobicoke) - Emergency shelter for young men and women, from 16- 24 years.  Phone in advance for shelter.

Family Planning Clinic - (Scarborough Office) - Provides supportive counselling, information and referral services by appointment.  Tests for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases is available.

Hassle Free Clinic - Anonymous counselling and medical services including birth control counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.  OHIP not required.  Clinic will see women and men on different days of the week.  Phone for office hours.

Scarborough North Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic - Medical clinic offers counselling and STD treatment.  Health Card required.

Shout Clinic - Community health care centre for persons 16-25. Services are free  Dental care also available.  For homeless and street-involved.  Call for appointment.

The House - (Planned Parenthood of Toronto) - Community health centre for persons 13-25 years.  OHIP not required.  Various sexual health counselling and information programs.  Translation services provided with advance notice.  Phone for hours.

Toronto Public Health - Sexual health and birth control counselling, health education programs, sexual transmitted diseases information, testing and treatment.  14 offices throughout Toronto.  Various languages.  8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon. - Fri.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Scarborough Hospital - General Division - Individual, family and group counselling and treatment for children, youth and adolescents up to 18 years. Fees covered by OHIP.

East Metro Youth Services - Services for individual, family and group programs for youth 12 to 18 years.

Native Women's Resource Centre - Network for Native women.   Healing path and empowerment circles.  Call for information.

Oasis Centre des Femmes - Individual counselling for French-speaking women who are victims of any form of violence. The centre also serves Francophone women who are immigrants, refugees or in search of employment.  Call for information.  9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mon. - Fri.  24 hour (French Only) crisis line.

Scarborough Agencies Sexual Abuse Treatment Program -  Service co-ordination and treatment groups for youth and children under the age of 18 who have a validated case of childhood sexual abuse.  Fees covered by OHIP.

Shoniker Clinic, Rouge Valley Health System - Centenary Health Centre Site - Individual and group counselling for children, youth and adolescents up to 18 years, who are experiencing problems at home, school, mental issues or having personal difficulties.  Health Card is required. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. - Fri.

The Gate House - Individual and peer counselling for youth and adults who have been assaulted or abused in their childhood.  Referral services and sensitive interview room for police interviews with victims. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. - Fri.

Toronto Child Abuse Centre - Crisis counselling and child victim witness support program.  Must be referred by Children's Aid Society, police, probation officer or crown attorney. Self referrals may be accepted. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon. - Fri.

Women's Counselling, Referral and Education Centre - Provides information and assistance for obtaining a counsellor or counselling program. Telephone and in-person assessment and referral to services sensitive.

Youth Link - Provides counselling for youth ages 12-21 years and their families.  Arranges services for developmental delay youth.  9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mon. - Fri.

Justice For Children and Youth - Community legal clinic for youth under 17 years.  Legal representation for residential care, education, criminal matters, child welfare.  Services are free.  9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mon.-Thurs. (Summer: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Legal Aid Ontario - Free legal information and advice to persons with low incomes.

Scarborough Community Legal Services - Legal Clinic for residents east of Midland Avenue who meet financial eligibility requirements.  Services are free.  9:30 a.m. to Noon. Mon. - Fri.  Answering machine at all other times.

Victim/Witness Assistance Programme - Help for victims and witnesses, including children, who are involved in a criminal court case.  Services include liaison with police, crown attorneys, court room orientation, referral for counselling and other programs.  26 sites throughout Ontario.  Services are free.  Ask for the number in your area. 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mon. - Fri.

West Scarborough Legal Services - Community legal clinic for residents in area who meet financial eligibility.  Services are free.  By appointment only.  Funded by Ontario Legal Aid Plan.