Ottawa Mental Health Support Groups and Resources:

Ottawa Mental Health Support Groups and Resources: Updated January 25, 2014. Know of any other helpful mental health resources not included on this list? Please email them to: stephgauthier@outlook.com. ADAO- Anxiety Disorders Association of Ontario: http://www.anxietydisordersontario.ca/ 613-729- 6761 Toll- Free Information Line: 1-877- 308-3843 E- mail: info@anxietydisordersontario.ca The 14- Week Anxiety Management Workshop is offered several times throughout the year in Ottawa, Ontario. The workshop runs for 2 and a 1/ 2 hours on a weekly basis and is facilitated by professionals. Canadian Mental Health Association- Ottawa Branch: http://ottawa.cmha.ca/ (613) 737-7791 The Canadian Mental Health Association, Ottawa Branch, is a community- based, registered charity dedicated to promoting good mental health, developing and implementing support systems and services and encouraging public action to strengthen community mental health services and related policies and legislation. Catholic Family Service Ottawa: http://www.cfsottawa.ca/ 613-233- 8478 TTY: 613-233- 1866 Provides counseling and support services to individuals, couples and families in French and English. The CFSO team is dedicated in particular to ensuring services are provided to vulnerable and marginalized populations. Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre (EORC): http://www.eorc- gloucester.ca/ 613-741- 6025 ementalhealth.ca: http://www.ementalhealth.ca/ 1

Looking for mental health help? ementalhealth.ca provides anonymous, confidential and trustworthy information, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Search and find the mental health resources in your area. Family Services Ottawa: http://familyservicesottawa.org/ Offers counseling and support services to anybody in Ottawa who needs it. Mood Disorders Ottawa: http://www.mooddisordersottawa.ca/ Info- line: 613-526- 5406 Email: mdosupport@hotmail.com MDO Monthly Information Night: Info Night is held on the third Tuesday of each month (Sept. - May) from 7:30-9:15pm, and includes a speaker or panel, a Q&A session and refreshments. This meeting is open to people with mood disorders, their loved ones and the interested public. It is held at Southminster Church, 15 Aylmer Avenue (near the Rideau Canal and Bank St.), 3rd Floor. MDO Peer Support Group: A bimonthly peer support group, formerly known as Charlie's Rap Group, for adults 18+ with mood disorders. Please join them for a friendly, confidential discussion of mood disorder- related topics. You do not need to be a member to attend these informal gatherings, however we hope you will choose to support MDO. For more information, leave a message on the MDO Info- line 613-526- 5406. When: The group meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Where: 1355 Bank Street, 4th floor (follow the signs), from 7:15-9:15pm. Orleans Family Support Group: A monthly family support group for adult relatives and friends of people with mood disorders. Discussions are friendly and confidential. For more information, please contact Madelene Bertrand by email at f2fontario@bell.net. When: The group meets on the third Thursday of each month from 7:00-9:00pm. Where: Orleans United Church, 1111 Orleans Blvd. (at Fortune Blvd.). Discovery 2000 Subsidized Recreation Program: 2

This year- round program provides 2-3 very low- cost recreational events each month for our members with mood disorders. Discovery outings can include movies, museums, mini- golf, bowling, day trips and restaurant outings. All members are welcome to participate, however only members with mood disorders are subsidized. Please bring your membership card or complete a membership application and fee payment at the event. Call the MDO Info- line 613-526- 5406 or email to: mdosupport@hotmail.com request a membership form and calendar of events. Speaker Nights: Monthly information meetings that are open to the public. Join us for a new guest speaker each month. Q&A and refreshments When: The 3rd Tuesday of the month (September- May) 7:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. Where: Southminster Church - 3rd Floor, 15 Aylmer St., just after the Bank St. bridge at Lansdowne. Wellness and Recovery Action Plan "WRAP": A useful, free 10-12 week program which helps identify and use wellness tools to help mental illness sufferers with their mental illness. Next program begins winter 2014. Pathways to Recovery: Pathways to Recovery is a free 10 week program which provides a supportive culture for people to explore their own recovery in a self- directed and self- controlled way in a group setting so that the experience that can build relationships that support and sustain recovery. Next session begins fall 2014 Family WRAP: A workshop for family members of people with mental health challenges. The Family WRAP program explores ways people can support a struggling loved one without losing themselves. It s a free 8- week workshop that takes a practical, self- help approach to care and recovery for all members of the family. Next session: January 2014. Ottawa OCD Support Group: http://www.ocdottawa.com/meetings/ Email Contact: mark@ocdottawa.com This is a self- help group, where individuals share coping strategies with a CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) focus. Meetings are held in a relaxed, informal, round table like environment. Attendance will vary between 5-10 people of various ages and gender. Most individuals come alone and some are accompanied by a family member at times. Books we 3

reference regularly at each meeting for CBT include Freedom From Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder by Jonathan Grayson, Ph.D. and Brain Lock by Jeffrey M. Schwartz, M.D. with Beverly Beyette. When: Meetings are held every second Wednesday between 7:30pm 10:00pm. Where: McNabb Community Centre, 180 Percy Street. Please e- mail Mark (mark@ocdottawa.com) before attending your first meeting. Ottawa OCD Parent/Family Support Group: http://www.ocdottawa.com/meetings/ Phone Contact: (Barb) 613-831- 3222 Email Contact: (Barb) barb@ocdottawa.com This group is parent led, informal, with a positive, solutions oriented focus for parents/family, and anyone dealing with a person affected with OCD. Please e- mail (barb@ocdottawa.com) or call Barb @ 613-831- 3222 to RSVP if you plan on attending. When: Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month between 7:30pm 9:30pm Where: Ralph and Sons Diner, 3420 Carling Ave. Ottawa Network for Borderline Personality Disorder: http://www.on- bpd.ca/ The main objective of ON- BPD is to provide support and to educate relatives of persons who are affected by BPD. This is done through the Family Connections Program, conferences and lectures. A Post Psychiatric Leisure Experience http://www.appledropin.com/index.html A.P.P.L.E. strives to enhance the quality of life of its members by offering peer support, employment, low cost recreational programs, referral information, mental health education, volunteer opportunities, computer training, and a meal program to all of their members. They try to help their members from being re- hospitalized by helping them reintegrate back into our community. The main focus of their program is to provide a low cost quality recreation program for persons with mental health issues. For a list of all programs offered, check their website at: http://www.appledropin.com/pages/activities.html. Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa http://www.psychiatricsurvivors.org/ 613-567- 4379 4

Holds many peer support groups weekly as well as other events. Membership is free to psychiatric survivors. All of PSO's voting members, directors, volunteers and staff are consumer/survivors of the mental health system. PSO staff and volunteers offer individual and group peer support, and inform and educate the community about the needs of consumer/survivors. We offer telephone information and referrals to resources and supports in Ottawa. Members drop in to meet friends over tea or browse PSO's mental health library and resource boards. PSO offers a safe and non- judgmental environment for consumer/survivors to get together, support each other, and build upon our skills. If you wish to receive an information package including their brochure and their latest issue of the PSO Update, please call PSO Tuesday to Friday between 12:00 and 4:00 p.m. at this number: 613-567- 4379. Here is a sample of some of the groups and programs offered: Christian Wholeness When: Tuesdays, 1:00 2:30pm Where: Where: Room 314 at the Bronson Centre (211 Bronson Ave.) Welcome to Christian Wholeness. Feel free to bring your favorite Christian music; we can rejoice with you. Peer Recovery Group When: Wednesdays, 10:30-11:45am Where: Room 314 at the Bronson Centre (211 Bronson Ave.) In this morning group we offer each other support and explore the elements that improve our sense of well- being and overall health. The group is focused on our personal challenges and successes in recovery. All are welcome! Peer Support Group When: Wednesdays, 2 3:15pm Where: Room 314 at the Bronson Centre (211 Bronson Ave.) This is an opportunity to gather with others who have been through the mental health system and speak openly in a safe environment about our own experiences in relation to a different topic each week. Members have learned from each other and have found new insights into their personal experiences. Women s Group When: Thurs. 12:30-1:45pm 5

Where: Room 314 at the Bronson Centre (211 Bronson Ave.) Relax as various topics are discussed. Bring your lunch if you like. Men s Group When: Thursday, January 2 nd, 16 th, and 30 th at 3:00-4:00pm Where: Room 314 at the Bronson Centre (211 Bronson Ave.) Are you looking for a group where you can share your concerns with other men in a safe and non- judgmental environment? Then consider attending the new men's group! This group will include topics and open discussions in a relaxed atmosphere. All are welcome. Check out all PSO s groups and activities at: http://www.psychiatricsurvivors.org/update- newsletter.html YSB s Youth Mental Health Services http://www.ysb.ca 613-562- 3004 Offers youth mental health walk- in clinic, as well as, youth and family counseling. Where: 2301 Carling Avenue (East of Lincoln Fields Transitway Station) Immediate Help Available: Mental Health Crisis Line: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health problem and is in crisis, call toll free, 24 hours a day. First point of access to the bilingual mental health system. Intended for individuals 16 years and older. Within Ottawa: 613-722- 6914 Outside Ottawa: 1-866- 996-0991 http://www.crisisline.ca/ Mental health Distress Line of Ottawa and Region 613-238- 3311 Tel- Aide Outaouais French distress line for Ottawa and Outaouais. 613-741- 6433 819-776- 2649 Mon- Sun: 8 a.m.- 12 a.m. 6

Child, Youth and Family Crisis Line for Eastern Ottawa: http://www.icrs.ca/en Within Ottawa: 613-260- 2360 Long Distance Toll- Free for Eastern Ontario: 1-877- 377-7775 If you are feeling overwhelmed as a parent or youth you can call for support. Service in both official languages. Canadian Mental Health Resources: ADAO- Anxiety Disorders Association of Ontario: http://www.anxietydisordersontario.ca/ Phone: (613) 729-6761 (Ottawa and surrounding area) Toll Free: 1-877- 308-3843 E- mail: info@anxietydisordersontario.ca Canadian Mental Health Association: http://www.cmha.ca/ National Alliance on Mental Illness: http://www.f2fontario.ca/ Schizophrenia Society of Ontario: http://www.schizophrenia.on.ca/ Access many programs and resources including the Ask the Expert program described below. Ask the Expert- Web and Telephone Support If you have questions and living well with schizophrenia or psychosis, the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario s Ask the Expert program addresses practical questions about living with schizophrenia and psychotic illnesses, as well as provides guidance on how to navigate the mental health system and shares information on local resources. It also facilitates local support groups to enable people to come together and share vital information. All questions and responses are kept private and confidential. Here's how to get in touch: 1. Email your question to: asktheexpert@schizophrenia.on.ca 2. Please include the city and postal code in which you live so that information about local resources can be shared with you 3. Allow three business day for a response. Please note that some questions may take longer to answer, depending on complexity. 7

If your situation is urgent you may also call us at 1-800- 449-6367 Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. If you are facing a medical emergency, please contact your doctor or visit your local hospital. Faith Based Mental Health Information and Support Groups: Mental Health Ministries: http://www.mentalhealthministries.net/index.html Mental Health Ministries is an interactive web based ministry to provide educational resources to help erase the stigma of mental illness in our faith communities. Pathways to Promise: Ministry and Mental Illness: http://www.pathways2promise.org/ Pathways to Promise is an interfaith cooperative of many faith groups. They provide assistance and are a resource center, which offers liturgical and educational materials, program models, caring ministry with people experiencing a mental illness and their families. Catholic Resources: Catholic Mental Health Support Group: http://www.annunciation- ottawa.com/ (613) 745-7774 2414 Ogilvie Rd., Ottawa, ON Come and meet for support and prayer with others affected by mental illness on the first and third Monday of each month at 7:00pm to 8:30pm at Annunciation of the Lord Parish (2414 Ogilvie Rd., Ottawa, ON), in the Parish Library. Feel free to contact the group s facilitator, Stephanie Gauthier, with any questions at stephgauthier@outlook.com. Free PDF Booklet: Welcomed and Valued- Building Faith Communities of Support and Hope with People with Mental Illness and Their Families http://www.miministry.org/resourcebinder.pdf 8

Free PDF Booklet: Mental Illness and Faith Community Outreach http://www.miministry.org/booklet.pdf Free PDF Booklet: Mental Health and Justice Issues http://www.miministry.org/justiceissues.pdf 9