Who We Are
Distress and Crisis Ontario
About Us
We're here for you.
Our Values
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.
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
Strengthen collaboration and work in concert to bolster the sustainability of DCO and our member organizations.
Member Benefits and Services
Enhance the value of membership to ensure benefits and services meet members’ needs.
Marketing and Communications
Engage members in employing marketing and communication more strategically.
Relationship Building
Foster strategic relationships internally amongst members and externally with like-minded partners, while positioning DCO as an expert resource in the provision of rapid access to emotional, distress, crisis and suicide support.
DCO Organizational Structure
Review key organizational components to ensure currency, effectiveness and efficiency; then realign and reorganize where necessary.
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
To foster an environment of collaboration and networking while providing universal access to support for individuals in distress and crisis.
Thank You to Our Major Funder and Supporter
We would like to thank LifeLine International for their grant of $3,500.00 to support our Clyde Mental Health and Addictions Awareness Project. Their funding will go towards continually raising awareness and providing tools to professionals and communities of individuals, families, and interest groups to aid them in supporting suicide prevention and intervention.
