New Counselling Connect website providing free same or next-day sessions from 13 Ottawa agencies

Community mental health providers are finding new ways make access easier during COVID-19.

Counselling Connect is an initiative being launched Thursday by 13 Ottawa area mental health agencies, making it easy for children, youth, adults and families to make appointments for free, same-day or next-day 45- to 90-minute phone or video sessions through one website.

Emergency department volumes at Ottawa hospitals have dropped by more than 50 per cent due to the pandemic — including those seeking urgent care for mental health and substance use. Meanwhile, crisis lines are experiencing a spike in calls.

Before the pandemic, people received free same-day counselling appointments mainly through community walk-in services. Due to COVID-19, in-office counselling is not possible, but the services are still open.

Each agency has its own separate scheduling process, but the idea of Counselling Connect is to have a centralized way to make an appointment for any given need.

The initiative is being financially supported by the Ottawa Community Foundation.

“The need for free counselling sessions is higher than ever,” says Tamara Chipperfield, Director of Mental Health and Addictions at Centretown Community Health Centre. “The health risks, isolation and employment uncertainty of the pandemic are further amplifying the concerns people were already experiencing. People need free access to free full-length counselling sessions and they need it now.”

“One size does not fit all when it comes to counselling,” says Mark MacAulay, Director of Mental Health, Family Services Ottawa. “A counsellor supporting a child's anxiety will use a different approach than a counsellor working with an adult's relationship issues or gambling. One door to access counselling with 13 organizations means people get the specific help they need.”

If someone needs more support than that one appointment, other support options will be discussed during their session. This may mean a referral into counselling with the organization that is providing that one session. Or, it may mean a referral to another organization. Either way, the client leaves the session with options and hope.

The 13 agencies taking part in Counselling Connect include: 

• Canadian Mental Health Association Ottawa
• Crossroads Children's Mental Health Centre
• Centretown Community Health Centre
• Le Cap
• Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region
• Family Services Ottawa
• Jewish Family Services
• Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization
• Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services
• Sandy Hill Community Health Centre
• Somerset West Community Health Centre
• The Walk-in Counselling Clinic
• Youth Services Bureau