Crisis Support

Immediate Crisis Support and Emergency Resources

If you or someone you know is in crisis, experiencing suicidal thoughts, overdosing, or in immediate danger, help is available right now—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across Canada.

24/7 Canadian Crisis Helplines

Overdose Emergency: What to Do

If someone has overdosed on opioids (heroin, fentanyl, prescription painkillers), immediate action saves lives:

Provincial/Territorial Crisis Lines

When to Go to the Emergency Room

Go to the nearest hospital emergency department if:

• • You're having thoughts of harming yourself or others
• • You're experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms (alcohol, benzos—can be life-threatening)
• • You're in a mental health crisis and can't keep yourself safe
• • You need immediate detox and crisis lines/services aren't helping quickly enough

Hospital ERs can: Stabilize you medically, connect you to detox/treatment, provide psychiatric assessment, keep you safe during crisis.

Supervised Consumption Sites

If you're using drugs and worried about overdosing, supervised consumption sites provide:

• • Safe space to use substances under medical supervision
• • Immediate response if you overdose (naloxone, oxygen, CPR)
• • Clean supplies (needles, pipes) to reduce infection risk
• • Connections to treatment, housing, and health services when you're ready
• • No judgment, no police

Find sites: Available in BC, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec. Search "supervised consumption site [your city]" or call your provincial addiction line.

For Family/Friends: What to Do in a Crisis

If your loved one is in crisis:

• Don't leave them alone: Stay with them or get someone to stay until help arrives.
• Remove access to means: Lock up medications, alcohol, drugs, weapons.
• Call crisis lines: Even if they won't talk, you can call and get guidance.
• Take threats seriously: If they mention suicide, believe them and get help immediately.
• Transport if safe: If they agree, drive them to ER. If they refuse or it's unsafe, call 911.
• Use police as last resort: If they're a danger to themselves/others and won't go to hospital voluntarily, police can apprehend them for mental health assessment (varies by province).

After the Crisis: Next Steps

Once immediate danger has passed:

• • Follow up with treatment: Crisis is often a wake-up call. Now is the time to get into detox, residential treatment, or intensive outpatient.
• • Create a safety plan: Work with counselors to identify warning signs and coping strategies for future crises.
• • Build a support network: Therapist, support groups (AA/NA), trusted friends/family, crisis line numbers saved in phone.
• • Address underlying issues: Mental health conditions, trauma, chronic pain—treat the root causes of substance use.