Who We Are
Distress and Crisis Ontario (DCO) is an administrative membership association, registered as a non-profit charity in April of 1983, that supports advocacy, networking, and training for many Distress Centres (DCs) across Ontario. DCs offer instant support and a variety of services to their communities and are a place where you can find a listening ear for anyone who is feeling lonely, depressed, is struggling with suicidal ideation, or who is otherwise in need of support. Most centres operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and may include suicide survivor programs, LGBTQ+ friendly services, support services for youth, telephone call-out programs for seniors and other vulnerable populations, mental health crisis lines, and more.
Our values

Accountability

Collaboration and empowerment

Inclusion

Integrity

Leadership
Distress Centres (DCs) across Ontario offer real-time support and a variety of other services that address the needs of their communities.
DCs provide their listening and referral services for free, primarily through highly trained and committed volunteers who are knowledgeable individuals who are dedicated to ensuring that the highest levels of support and innovation in service provision are offered to their communities.
In everything we do here at Distress and Crisis Ontario (DCO) we aim to provide advocacy for our Members and the distress/crisis sector, training for volunteers and leadership, and to foster networking among Member centres to allow for partnerships and growth among the sector.
Our strategic priorities for 2020-2022:
Sustainability
Member benefits and services
Marketing and communications
Relationship building
DCO organizational structure
Mission
To be an association that is the recognized leader in promotion, collaboration, and building capacity within organizations that provide distress and crisis response.

Vision
Thank you to our major funder and supporter

Distress and Crisis Ontario is a member of good standing of the Internation Association of Suicide Prevention and LifeLine International, as well as The American Association of Suicidology and Addictions and Mental Health Ontario.