Hi,

I am Canadian and thought that I could provide some pointers.

Unfortunately, our universal healthcare does not cover such things as psychologists, like what seems to be the case in countries like Australia and the UK, which have far better mental health services, however there are other sources of help that are free, but the services are slightly different.

Usually in large cities or even in small towns connected to the hospitals there are community health centres that will provide free health services, including but not limited to counseling, and work in collaboration with your doctor, or even have doctors and other specialists on site.

Where I am, because I also can’t afford such services, I visit Klinic Community Healthcare here in Winnipeg for free services, and this is the kind of place that I am recommending to you, since they do exist. Klinic offers free counseling, doctors, nutritionists, nurses, a 24/7 crisis line, support groups, etc. for their patients, all of which is free.

However, such health centres do not have psychologists and psychiatrists, and that is where the services differ from paid services elsewhere.

The difference between counselors (what I have) and a psychologist is that counselors do not have the education/background to make official diagnoses; they’re more like in between a high school guidance counselor and a psychologist. Being officially diagnosed with a condition, needing a psychological assessment, and other such matters cannot be done by a counselor, however everything else can be.

Personally, I’ve seen psychiatrists, psychologists, behavioral therapists, counselors, literally every professional, and I don’t like psychologists much at all. I have found they treat me like a paycheck and just don’t help at all. Counselors are more personal and seem to care more, since they won’t be strictly in an office and will assist you any way they can, or that’s my experience.

I’d say the best thing you can do to find such a resource where you live is call a crisis line - all provinces and territories have them and they should have the knowledge to find such a place for you. Or you can ask the student resources department at a school for the location of one; that’s how I found Klinic.

I don’t know where in Ontario you are but you can check out these links…

Kid’s Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (Provides crisis counseling services to young people between the ages of five and 20 and assists adults aged 21 and older find the counseling services they need.)

http://www.crisisline.ca/ (Crisis Line: 1-866-996-0991)

Thunder Bay Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse Support (http://www.tbsasa.org/) Yes, I know the support isn’t really relevant (that I know of?) but that is irrelevant, because they will have contacts and resources. Crisis is a crisis. Period. They won’t say, “Oh, well, sorry, we don’t deal with that.” .

Mental Health Helpline (http://www.mentalhealthhelpline.ca/) for all of Ontario.

Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario (http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/services_....asp?cID=23063) lists recourses and contacts.

Also a cost effective and easy resource are the services offered at universities. All major universities have free psychological services and counseling for their students. That said, you don’t need to be attending class there, all you have to do is be a registered student. I know this because I met with a professor of psychology at the University of Manitoba, and she said that I can have free psychological services there as long as I register, which doesn’t mean I have to take courses . I can register, have an assessment done, and then never come back .

You need more links PM - I can find anything on the Internet