If it’s a crisis to you, then it’s a crisis to us.
Crisis Line & Mobile Crisis Team Services
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, the Crisis Line is here to help.
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to anyone in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, our services are compassionate, confidential, and free.
613-722-6914
within the City of Ottawa
1-866-996-0991
outside the City of Ottawa
If you’re calling from outside Ottawa or Eastern Ontario, we’ll do our best to support you and help connect you with services in your area.
What Is the Crisis Line?
The Crisis Line is a free, confidential telephone service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for people living in the Champlain Region, including Ottawa, Renfrew County, Prescott and Russell, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, and Akwesasne Territory.
The Crisis Line is often the first point of contact for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress. It is also the primary access point for Mobile Crisis Team services—a specialized service that can provide mobile mental health support to community members when required.
The Crisis Line is staffed by trained Crisis Responders who provide immediate support, listen without judgment, and assist individuals in determining the safest and most appropriate next steps.
The Crisis Line is available for:
- People experiencing emotional distress or overwhelming feelings
- People having thoughts of suicide or self-harm
- Individuals whose mental health symptoms are worsening
- People who are struggling to cope safely
- Family members, caregivers, friends, and community partners who are concerned about someone experiencing a crisis
Crisis Line Services
Crisis Responders are trained professionals who can provide:
- Emotional support and active listening
- Risk and safety assessments
- Suicide intervention and crisis support
- De-escalation during difficult situations
- Safety planning
- Information about available services and resources
- Referrals to community supports
- Assessment for Mobile Crisis Team services when needed
Many situations can be effectively supported through the Crisis Line without requiring additional services.
What Happens When I Contact the Crisis Line?
When you call the Crisis Line, a trained Crisis Responder will:
- Listen to you
- Ask questions to better understand your situation
- Assess any immediate safety concerns
- Help identify supports and options available to you
- Determine the most appropriate response
Average wait times are approximately 3–6 minutes.
Depending on your needs, the Crisis Responder may:
- Provide support over the phone
- Help develop a plan, including safety planning when appropriate
- Connect you with community resources
- Refer you to a Mobile Crisis Team when appropriate
Not everyone who contacts the Crisis Line will require support from a Mobile Crisis Team. However, everyone who reaches out will receive support and assistance in identifying the safest next steps.
What Is a Mobile Crisis Team?
Mobile Crisis Teams provide timely, community-based support to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
These teams consist of trained mental health professionals who provide more intensive crisis support when appropriate and available.
Their goals are to:
- Assess immediate safety concerns
- Stabilize crisis situations
- Support individuals and families during times of crisis
- Connect people to community resources and ongoing supports
- Reduce the need for emergency department visits when appropriate
- Provide a less restrictive alternative to hospital-based care whenever possible
Mobile Crisis Teams are available throughout the Champlain Region, although services may vary by location.
Who Can Access Mobile Crisis Team Services?
Mobile Crisis Teams can support:
- People experiencing emotional distress or overwhelming feelings
- Individuals having thoughts of suicide or self-harm
- People experiencing worsening mental health symptoms
- Individuals whose mental health challenges are affecting their ability to cope safely
- Family members, caregivers, friends, and community partners who are concerned about someone experiencing a crisis
A Crisis Responder will help determine whether Mobile Crisis Team services are appropriate and what level of support is required based on the individual's needs and the services available in their area.
What Can I Expect if I Am Referred to a Mobile Crisis Team?
Mobile Crisis Teams are generally accessed through the Crisis Line.
If a Crisis Responder determines that a Mobile Crisis Team is the most appropriate service:
- A referral will be made to the Mobile Crisis Team with the caller’s consent
- General information about the caller and situation will be shared with the Mobile Crisis Team worker
- A Mobile Crisis Team worker will contact the individual requesting support within 24 hours
- The worker will discuss the situation, assess needs, and determine the most appropriate next steps
If you have been referred to a Mobile Crisis Team and do not receive a call within 24 hours, please reconnect with your local Crisis Line for assistance.
The type and level of support provided may vary depending on the situation, location, and available services.
When Should I Call 911?
The Crisis Line and Mobile Crisis Teams are not emergency services.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if there is an immediate risk of serious harm to yourself or someone else, someone requires urgent medical attention, or there is another life-threatening emergency.
Important Reminder
The Crisis Line and Mobile Crisis Teams are available to provide support, guidance, and connection to services during times of mental health crisis or emotional distress. If you are unsure whether you should call, reaching out is encouraged. A trained Crisis Responder can help determine the most appropriate support for your situation.