Distress and Crisis Ontario
Distress and Crisis Ontario (DCO) is an administrative membership association that supports advocacy, networking, and training for 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. Visit our locations page to find a centre near you.
If you are in distress, crisis, or are experiencing suicidal ideation:
ONTX is here to help and support you
For support over text, text SUPPORT to 258258
or, click below to
Available from 2PM – 2AM EST daily, standard text messaging rates apply.
Members learning platform
Learning Forum
Our Learning Forum videos are available to our Member centres and their volunteers as a way to provide training and education. If you are a Member centre employee or volunteer, please login to access the Learning Forum.
Fundraisers, news, and events
Supporting Parents
Please click here to watch the webinar recording from our webinar on supporting parents, with an emphasis on support for parents on the autism spectrum.
Art Therapy for Grief due to Suicide Loss
Please click here to access the notes from our webinar presented by Marilyn Clarke on how art therapy can be used to support persons who are struggling with grief related to a death by suicide.
Learning Opportunities
Christina Hennelly, Intimate Partner Violence Specialist at the Brain Injury Association of Waterloo Wellington, and friend of Distress and Crisis Ontario, will be speaking about her project on Intimate Partner and Gender Based Violence at two upcoming events. Visit...
World Suicide Prevention Day 2021
On Friday September 10th, 2021, we hosted a livestream on Facebook to honour World Suicide Prevention Day. World Suicide Prevention Day, observed each year on September 10th, provides the opportunity for people across the globe to raise awareness of suicide and...
Supporting Suicidal Callers Webinar
On August 18, 2021 our Spirit of Volunteerism Committee hosted a webinar on the topic of supporting callers who are struggling with suicidality and suicidal ideation. Click here to access the video recording, webinar notes, and some additional resources related to...
Ending Difficult Calls Webinar Summary
In July, 2021, we held a webinar for volunteers and staff from across our membership, hosted by our Spirit of Volunteerism Committee. We had a long-time volunteer from our committee present on the topic of ending difficult calls and the webinar was well-attended which...
Thank you to our major funder and supporter
Donate now through canadahelps.org
Find a DCO Member Centre near you
One of the greatest gifts you can give is your time
How to reach our administrative staff:
If you are in distress or crisis and need immediate support, please call one of the Distress Centres or Crisis Lines listed in the GET HELP section of this website or, for help finding other mental health service providers, look at our USEFUL INFORMATION section. Distress and Crisis Ontario itself is an administrative organization and does not provide telephone listening or referrals!
Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch:
Administration offices, not a crisis line!
416-486-2242
info@dcontario.org
PO Box 40115
RPO Waterloo Square
Waterloo, ON
N2J 4V1
Distress and Crisis Ontario was recently featured on
torontoblogs.ca, click here to see the article.
Distress and Crisis Ontario is dedicated to being an LGBTQ2+ safe space, committed to inclusion and respect.
Distress and Crisis Ontario acknowledge that we are located on the Haldimand Tract, land promised to Six Nations, which includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. We are on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (Neutral Confederacy), Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples.
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.