Mental Health Resources

Mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. 

We all have mental health, so we all need to make sure that we're taking care of our mental health. If you're struggling, please remember that you are not alone and you will get through this. If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out to the appropriate persons. The following are mental health resources for your specific needs: 

24/7 Crisis Lines, if you are struggling:

  • Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868

  • Youthdale Psychiatric Crisis Services  at 416 363-9990

  • Gerstein Centre Crisis Line at 416-929-5200

  • Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line at 1-800-268-9688

  • TRIP at 647-822-6435 (if you are having a bad drug-use experience)

  • Mental Health Help Line at 1-866-531-2600

Educational resources, if your friend or family member is struggling: 

Before you read further you need to remember the people who struggle from mental illnesses are not weak-minded, they are sick. Someone who is struggling with mental illness can still appear to live a “normal life.” 

Disclaimer: Someone who struggles from one or more of the mental illnesses listed below may have very few to none of these symptoms. Below, is a list of common symptoms in the 5 most common mental illnesses seen in teenagers. However, someone who struggles from these mental illnesses may not experience these symptoms whatsoever. These are not all the mental illnesses that teenagers could have. 

Anxiety symptoms include but are not limited to:
  • Feeling nervous, restless or tense.
  • Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom.
  • Having an increased heart rate.
  • Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
  • Sweating.
  • Trembling.
  • Feeling weak or tired.
  • Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry.
    • Depression symptoms include but are not limited to:
  • Trouble concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
  • Fatigue
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness
  • Pessimism and hopelessness
  • Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or sleeping too much
  • Crankiness
  • Restlessness
  • Loss of interest in things once pleasurable, including sex
  • Overeating, or appetite loss
  • Aches, pains, headaches, or cramps that won't go away
  • Digestive problems that don't get better, even with treatment
  • Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
  • Suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts
    		•
    Eating disorders symptoms include but are not limited to:
  • In general, behaviours and attitudes that indicate that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns
  • Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, carbohydrates, fat grams, and dieting
  • Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g., no carbohydrates, etc.)
  • Appears uncomfortable eating around others
  • Food rituals (e.g. eats only a particular food or food group [e.g. condiments], excessive chewing, doesn’t allow foods to touch)
  • Skipping meals or taking small portions of food at regular meals
  • Any new practices with food or fad diets, including cutting out entire food groups (no sugar, no carbs, no dairy, vegetarianism/veganism)
  • Withdrawal from usual friends and activities
    		•
    Bipolar disorder symptoms include but are not limited to:
  • Abnormally upbeat, jumpy or wired
  • Increased activity, energy or agitation
  • Exaggerated sense of well-being and self-confidence (euphoria)
  • Decreased need for sleep
  • Unusual talkativeness
  • Racing thoughts
  • Distractibility
  • Poor decision-making — for example, going on buying sprees, taking sexual risks or making foolish investments
    		•
    Dissociative disorders symptoms include but are not limited to:
  • Memory loss (amnesia) of certain time periods, events, people and personal information
  • A sense of being detached from yourself and your emotions
  • A perception of the people and things around you as distorted and unreal
  • A blurred sense of identity
  • Significant stress or problems in your relationships, work or other important areas of your life
  • Inability to cope well with emotional or professional stress
  • Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviours
    		•
    Sources: