Resources and Crisis Support for
Hamilton and Ontario
*If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest hospital. If you are crisis or distress, the following resources may offer some support.
LGBTQ+Youth Line: text 647-694-4275, live chat option
LGBT YouthLine is a *2SLGBTQ+ youth-led organization that affirms and supports the experiences of youth (29 and under) across Ontario. They provide:
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Anonymous peer support and referrals through text and online chat;
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Training youth to provide support to other youth; and
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Providing resources so youth can make informed decisions.
Barrett Centre for mental health and crisis support- Hamilton: 905-529-7878
Barrett Centre for Crisis Support provides a safe environment in the community for individuals who are experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis and who do not require a hospital stay. They serve all genders, 16 years of age or older. Confidential and free services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Naseeha Helpline Muslim Support: call 1-866-627-3342
Naseeha provides a safe zone for youths and individuals to talk and get the help they need. They provide workshops to youth across North America, web therapy sessions, and offer texting mental health support 7 days a week. Services are open to everyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. Committed to providing a safe and non-judgmental environment where individuals can discuss their concerns without fear of stigma or discrimination.
Assaulted Women's Helpline Text #SAFE (#7233) or Call 1-866-863-0511
The Assaulted Women’s Helpline provides crisis counselling, safety planning, emotional support, information, and referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year on our telephone and TTY crisis line. Their free, confidential, and anonymous support is available in 200+ languages.
Affordable Mental Health Resources in Hamilton and Surrounding Areas
Wellness Together Canada
Offers free mental health and substance use support to those across Canada and Canadians living abroad. Offers text support, information on common mental health issues, mental wellness programs to be done on your own or with coaching, monitored communities of support, and counselling.
Bounce Back Ontario
BounceBack® is a free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It is designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, depression, anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.
Books
*This book list was assembled with the help of my colleagues and is still growing. I have not read every single book and I encourage you to read the book descriptions and decide if any of these books are right for your therapeutic journey.
Books about Grief
The Grief Recovery Handbook: J. James & R. Friedman
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It’s OK That You Are Not OK: M. Devine
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How to Carry What Can’t be Fixed: M. Devine
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Finding Meaning: David Kessler
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Books about Trauma
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The Body Keeps the Score: By Bessel van der Kolk
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The Myth of Normal: By Gabor Maté
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It Didn’t Start With You: Mark Wolynn
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Waking the Tiger: Peter Levine
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In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction - by Gabor Maté
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Books about Attachment and Relationships
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Securely Attached - transform your attachment patterns into loving lasting relationships - Here
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It Didn’t Start With You: Mark Wolynn
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Attached: by Amir Levine & Rachel Heller
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Hold Me Tight: Dr. Sue Johnson
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Codependent No More: Melody Beattie
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Books about ADHD
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ADHD 2.0: E. Hallowell & J. Ratey
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Scattered Minds: By Gabor Maté
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We're All Neurodiverse- How to Build a Neurodiversity-Affirming Future and Challenge Neuronormativity - Here
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Books about therapy and Self-Help:
Maybe you should talk to Somebody: Lori Gottlieb
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Burnout - The secret to unlocking the stress cycle - by Amelia and Emily Nagoski
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No Bad Parts - Healing trauma and restoring wholeness using the internal family systems model - Here
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How to do the Work: by Nicole LePera
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How to Meet Yourself- The WorkBook for Self-Discovery - which you can look at HERE
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Let Them: A life changing tool that millions of people can't stop talking about - by Mel Robbins - Here
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Anxiety Rx - a revolutionary prescription for anxiety relief - HERE
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Be Calm - proven techniques to stop anxiety now - HERE
Books about Mindfulness, Acceptancee, Compassionand Self-Love
The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-love: Sonya Renee Taylor
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Radical Acceptance: Tara Brach
Radical Compassion: Tara Brach
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Fierce Self-Compassion: Dr. Kristin Neff
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Self-Compassion and Radical Acceptance: Become Your Own Best Friend - A guide to compassionate, mindful healing. - Here
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​Self-Love Rainbow Workbook - Here
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LGBTQIA+ Books
Gender is Really Strange - Here
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He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters - Here
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The Queer and Transgender Resilience Workbook: Skills for Navigating Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression - Here
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The Queer Mental Health Workbook: A Creative Self-Help Guide Using CBT, CFT and DBT - Here
Books about Liberation, Decolonization, and Ancestral wisdom:
Decolinizing Therapy: Dr. Jennifer Mullan
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Decolonizing the Body: Kelsey Blackwell
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Pleasure Activism: Adrienne Maree Brown
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Emergent Strategy: Adrienne Maree Brown
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Braiding Sweetgrass: Robin Wall Kimmerer
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The Land in Our Bones: Layla Feghali
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Books about Embodiment and Nervous System Regulation
Homecoming - Healing trauma to reclaim your authentic self - read more about this book HERE
The Secret Language of the Body: Regulate your Nervous System, Free your body, heal your mind - Here
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The Language of Emotions - Karla McLaren
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Heal your Nervous System - by Linnea Passaler
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The Embodied Healing Workbook - Catherine Cook Cottone
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Books about Childhood Development
The Whole Brain Child - Dr. Dan Siegal
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Brainstorm - The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain - Dr. Dan Siegal
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Polyvagal Theory and the Developing Child - Marilyn R. Sanders, George S. Thompson
Other Books
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Man's Search for Meaning: Viktor Frankl
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The Untethered Soul - The Journey Beyond Yourself: Micheal A. Singer