About the Distress Centre (DCOR)

Since 1969, the Distress Centre of Ottawa & Region (DCOR) has been here day or night, 24/7, to answer calls from those who are reaching out for help. We provide an integral, important, and vital service in the community in both English and French.

Our Crisis Responders provide non-judgmental support in more than 61,000 interactions yearly. In 2024-25, DCOR managed calls from the following:

  • Champlain District Mental
  • Health Crisis Line
  • Ottawa Distress Line
  • Outaouais Distress Line
  • Emergency Support Line for Ottawa Paramedic Service
  • Ottawa Transit Crisis Service
  • 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
  • Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Helpline

Considered a leading practice by the Health Standards Organization, we also provide a telephone outreach service offered to patients who were recently discharged from hospital following an admission to hospital or a visit to the Emergency Department for a mental health issue.

They connect with the client to ensure:

  • They are functioning well
  • They have made necessary connections with both formal community resources and informal support networks
  • They have been able to follow their discharge plan

Transit users in Ottawa are able to speak with a Distress Centre Responder if they are in crisis or are feeling suicidal while using the transit system.

We also provide award-winning professional development opportunities, not only for our own volunteers, but for other groups as well, including colleges and universities, social service agencies, businesses, government departments, and police staff.

Our professional trainers, renowned for their expertise and knowledge, have trained on topics as diverse as conflict management, communication skills, stress management, suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and more.

Since 2016, we have provided support to 911 patients. This bilingual service allows 911 Communications Officers to transfer patients experiencing mental health issues to Distress Centre Responders to provide emotional support and stabilization for patients while they wait for Paramedics to arrive.

Callers may be exhibiting suicidal behaviour, have serious mental illness, or are dealing with psychotic episodes. In many cases, speaking with one of our Crisis Responders stabilizes the patient sufficiently that the patient feels able to transition their 911 call to a different support system.

These interactions free up scarce first responder resources. At a minimum, our Responders are able to prevent the patient’s situation from escalating. In 2024-25, our Responders supported 397 paramedic calls.

Guiding Principles

The Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region is committed to:

Recognizing the outstanding volunteer workforce that delivers the core of its services.

Protecting the confidentiality of all callers.
Ensuring access to its services 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.

Access to its services being free-of-charge for individuals residing in the geographic areas covered by DCOR.

Evolving its services to meet the changing needs of the community.

Being accountable to the community it serves and reporting regularly on current needs, gaps in services and emerging trends.

Transparency, accountability and diversity throughout the organization.

Leadership and excellence.