Frequently Asked Questions

A doctor’s referral is not required to complete an intake for Help Ahead. Some intensive service programs/providers do require a physician’s referral; the Service Navigator can support this when and if necessary.

Yes, we are happy to provide interpretation services in many different languages to support our culturally diverse community.  Please indicate your preference for an interpreter and which language on your referral form.

Help Ahead provides services for children and youth under the age 18.  We can provide some resources/direction to accessing services for over 18.

No, your child does need to have a mental health diagnosis to access our services, however, concerns must be mental health related.

Parents, legal guardians and youth can refer by phone by calling 1-866-585-6486 or online with our Get Started Form.

Doctors, service providers, school staff, etc., can refer on our website using the Get Started Form.

Help Ahead does not provide diagnostic assessments or arrange or connect families to psychiatric or psychological assessments for children and youth.

If you are looking for a diagnostic assessment, you can speak with your family doctor about a referral or seek a private assessment if you are able to. Your child’s school may also be able to provide support with a psycho-educational assessment.

Eligible families may also be able to access an assessment through Urban Tele-Mental Health services. Learn more about the Urban Tele-Mental Health Service.

Note: Help Ahead does provide intake and service assessments to understand a child or youth’s mental health needs and match them with appropriate community services. These are different from diagnostic assessments.

Wait times vary depending on the program and the services available.

There is no single wait time for all programs. Your service navigator can provide more information about the expected timeline for the services you are matched with.

We ask that you notify us in advance if you need to cancel or reschedule appointments made with our service navigators.

We understand that life is unpredictable and request you cancel a minimum of ONE HOUR before your scheduled appointment. If you do not cancel and fail to show up to your first appointment, you will forfeit your spot in cue will need to call the Help Ahead intake line to re-book. 

Help Ahead provides services for children and youth with mental health concerns. We are not coordinated access for Autism Services.

If a child/youth with autism is having mental health concerns, we may be able to support them in connecting to appropriate services; however, if you would like a referral specific autism-based services, please reach out to Access OAP or Surrey Place for more information.

Yes! There is no cost to services offered through Help Ahead. We connect you to community mental health services that are publicly funded.

If your child is 18 or older, they may be eligible for adult mental health services. The right service will depend on their needs, location and eligibility.

The following resources can help them find mental health and related supports in Toronto and across Ontario:

• ConnexOntario provides information and referrals to mental health, addiction and problem gambling services across Ontario.
• The Access Point helps people access community-based mental health and addiction services in Toronto.
• Family Service Toronto offers a range of counselling and support services for adults, families and communities.

Children and youth over 12 who are capable of making decisions must provide consent and be willing to participate in services.

Parents and caregivers are still welcome to call, to explore available options on how to support their child/youth. Some services may still be available to them even without youth consent/participation.

Day Treatment is a school-based mental health treatment program offered across Toronto for children and youth (with M postal codes) who are having a challenging time in their current school environment due to the mental health issues they are experiencing (i.e., social, behavioural, and/or emotional issues).

Day Treatment programs are a combination of education and treatment. It is a voluntary treatment program, which means that the young person must agree to participate in the program. It is meant to be a supportive experience to help students develop the skills necessary to successfully return to their community school settings.

Intensive In-Home Programs (IIHP) service provides intensive in-home family-based therapeutic and mental health services for children and youth and their caregivers within Toronto.

Programs provide therapeutic support to families and children/youth who have significant emotional, behavioural, and psychiatric challenges (such as significant aggression, oppositional and/or defiant behaviours, anxiety, depression, etc.).

Treatment is defined as a partnership between family members and the intensive in-home treatment team with a focus on each family member learning and practicing more effective ways of functioning and interacting at home and in their community.

Youth over 12 must be consenting to the referral and treatment.

Intensive treatment services are designed for children and youth with significant mental health challenges who need higher level of support to help them manage at home, school, and in community.

Services provide more frequent and specialized support for children and youth whose needs cannot be supported in outpatient or community settings alone.

Intensive treatment services include:

• Intensive in-home treatment
• Day treatment services
• Live-in treatment

Live-in Treatment (LIT) programs provide intensive, 24-hour therapeutic care and support for children and youth whose social, emotional or behavioural challenges require a higher level of care than can be provided at home or through community-based services. Programs may be considered when less intensive supports, such as outpatient counselling or day treatment, have not been enough to meet the youth’s needs.

Youth live in a staffed home with other participants and receive treatment, structure and support from child and youth workers. Programs vary in length and level of intensity, from a few weeks to several months or up to one year. Some focus on developing skills for more independent living, while others provide more intensive clinical treatment.

The goal is to help youth develop healthy coping and relationship skills, strengthen connections with their families and communities and, when appropriate, support a return to their family home.
Most LIT programs serve youth aged 12 and older, although some programs accept younger children and youth. For example, the Step Up Step Down program at Youthdale supports children and youth aged 10 and older.

Youth must consent to the referral and participate in treatment.

Non-intensive mental health services support children, youth and their families who are experiencing emotional, social, behavioural or self-regulation challenges. These services help children and youth build coping skills, improve their well-being and better manage challenges and stress at home, school and in the community.

Non-intensive services may be provided less frequently and vary in duration depending on the child or youth’s needs.

Non-intensive services include:

• Counselling and therapy services — These include a series of planned, inter-related interventions focused on reducing the severity of and/or remedying the emotional, social, behavioural and self-regulation problems of children and youth. Services are provided within the context of the family, culture and community and can be delivered in a range of settings.
• Brief services provide “quick access” (usually up to six sessions of therapy) to address the immediate or presenting needs of a child or youth.
• Family capacity building and support services — These may include access to peer support, parenting support, educational groups and/or workshops to promote resilience and positive child, youth, and family functioning.
• Group Services — These are programs designed to provide information, intervention and/or support for specific mental health topics to enhance the well-being and day to day functioning of young people.

Once we confirm your eligibility and consent, a service navigator will schedule an appointment with you. They will complete a full intake and assessment to better understand your current mental health needs and the reason for your request for services. Based on your needs, the navigator will help identify the best available community mental health service in Toronto and send your completed intake package to the partner agency on your behalf.

Single-session therapy is a brief, focused counselling session designed to help you identify your goals, build on your existing strengths and resources and develop practical strategies to address a specific concern. You can access support without committing to ongoing therapy, although you may be connected to additional services if needed.

Single session counselling at no cost is available through the following ways:

What’s Up Walk-In — free, single-session, solution-focused counselling for infants, children, youth, young adults and their families in Toronto. Sessions are available at participating locations. Eligibility and age ranges vary by location.

One Stop Talk — free, confidential, immediate mental health support to children and youth under 18 across Ontario. You can connect with a registered therapist by phone or online without an appointment.

Help Ahead does not provide direct mental health services. We connect children, youth and families with appropriate services in the community.

Service Navigators will complete an intake assessment to better understand needs and refer to appropriate services, some may be available quickly, while others may have wait times.

What’s Up Walk-In offers free, single-session, solution-focused counselling for infants, children, youth, young adults and their families in Toronto. Sessions are available at participating locations across the city and can address concerns such as anxiety, depression, self-harm, bullying, behavioural challenges, relationships and other mental health concerns. Eligibility and age ranges vary by location. Visit whatsupwalkin.ca to learn more.

One Stop Talk provides free, confidential, immediate mental health support to children and youth under 18 across Ontario. You can connect with a registered therapist by phone or online without an appointment. Call 1-855-416-TALK (8255) or visit onestoptalk.ca.

Children and youth under 18 who live in Toronto (with an M postal code) and are seeking mental health services, support or information.

Parents and caregivers of children and youth under 18 living in Toronto can also access support.

The primary concern must be related to mental health. Youth can be referred up to their 18th birthday. If a youth will turn 18 within three months, access to services before their 18th birthday cannot be guaranteed.