Resources: Mental Health & Mental Illness
Getting help
- Looking for mental health services in Ontario - PDF only (Brochure)
Stigma
- Stigma: Understanding the impact of prejudice and discrimination on people with mental health and substance use problems (web page) / PDF
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety Disorders : An Information Guide (PDF only)
This guide is for people with anxiety disorders, their families, partners, friends and anyone else who might be interested. The many aspects of anxiety disorders discussed in this book will answer some common questions, and help readers discuss anxiety disorders with treatment providers.
En français: Les troubles anxieux : Guide d'information (PDF seulement)
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar Disorder: An Information Guide (web page)
A guide for people with bipolar disorder, their families and anyone who wants to understand the basics of this illness, its treatment and management.
- Bipolar Disorder fact sheet (web page)
- When a parent has bipolar disorder: What kids want to know (web page) /PDF
Cognitive-Behavoural Therapy
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy: An Information Guide (PDF only)
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is widely recommended as a first-line treatment for a wide variety of emotional problems, including depression and anxiety. In CBT, people learn to identify, question and change distorted and negative thinking—to see thoughts as ideas rather than as facts, and to "stand back" from their thoughts and consider situations from different points of view.
En français: La thérapie cognitivo-comportementale : Guide d'information (PDF seulement)
Concurrent Disorders
Concurrent disorders (CD for short) generally describes a situation in which a person experiences a psychiatric disorder and either a substance use disorder and/or a gambling disorder. It is important to keep in mind that there are many different kinds of problems that are covered by these various terms (psychiatric disorder etc); as a result, CD presents itself in many different forms.
Concurrent Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders: An Information Guide (PDF only)
This guide is for people with concurrent disorders and for their families. It is also for anyone who wants basic information about concurrent disorders, their treatment and their management. This guide should not replace treatment from a health professional.
En français: Les troubles concomitants de toxicomanie et de santé mentale : Guide d'information (PDF seulement)
Depression
Depressive Illness: An Information Guide
This guide is written for people living with depression, their families and anyone interested in gaining a basic understanding about this illness, its treatment and management.
- Depression fact sheet (web page)
- Depression Photo-novella (PDF only; 1.66 MB).
- When a parent is depressed: What kids want to know (web page) / PDF
- What older adults, their families and friends need to know about… Depression
Can I Catch It Like a Cold?
Can I Catch It Like a Cold? tells the story of Alex and his struggle to understand his father's problem with depression. Alex learns what causes depression, what treatments are available and how he can cope and live well while his father is ill. He also learns that it's not his fault that his father has depression—and no, depression is not something you can catch, like a cold.
Dual Diagnosis
In Ontario, "dual diagnosis" refers to people who have both an intellectual disability and mental health needs. This section is under development. Please refer to the Dual Diagnosis resources.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: An Information Guide (PDF only)
This guide is for people with OCD, their families, partners, friends and anyone else who might be interested. The many aspects of OCD discussed in this book will answer some common questions, and help readers discuss obsessive compulsive disorder with treatment providers.
En français: Le trouble obsessionnel-compulsif : Guide d'information
(PDF seulement)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder fact sheet
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Help for partners and families
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
- Information on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for refugees and new immigrants
- Coping with Traumatic Events: Global Disasters Create Difficult and Uncertain Times
Understanding Psychiatric Medications
Psychosis
Women and Psychosis: A Guide for Women and Their Families
Psychotic illness affects women and men in different ways. In women, schizophrenia—the most common form of psychotic illness—usually starts later in life and progresses at a different pace. This means that treatment for women needs to be specific to women. This guide speaks to the specific issues women and their families face during recovery from psychosis.
- Promoting Recovery from First Episode Psychosis (PDF)
- Psychosis fact sheet
- When a parent has experienced psychosis: What kids want to know (web page) / PDF
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia: An Information Guide
This guide is written for people with schizophrenia, their families and partners, and those who want a basic understanding of this illness. It is not a substitute for treatment from a physician, but it can be used as a basis for questions and discussion about schizophrenia.
Trauma
Women, Abuse and Trauma Therapy
This guide is for women who are in therapy, or who are looking for a therapist, to help them deal with the long-term effects of prolonged or repeated experiences of abuse and violence. It is also for family members and friends who want to understand and support a woman who is going through trauma therapy. Therapists may also find it useful as a resource to give to clients or to use themselves.
- Common questions about trauma
- Women: What do these signs have in common? Recognizing the effects of abuse-related trauma (PDF)
Resilience
- How can we build resilience in children (Elementary)
Dementia
Information for newcomers to Canada
Alone in Canada: 21 Ways to Make it Better
This resource page has been moved and is temporarily unavailable. It will be restored shortly.
A self-help guide designed to help single new immigrants and refugees adjust to living in a new society as quickly and easily as possible. It provides suggestions on how to deal with 21 of the most common issues encountered by newcomers including how to overcome culture shock and isolation, cope with stress and discrimination, learn English, establish and manage new relationships and enjoy new experiences.
Parenting, Children & Teenagers
Teens & Tweens podcasts
Interviews with experts in adolescent mental health and addictions hosted by adolescent and family therapist Avrum Nadigel.
Can I Catch It Like a Cold?
Can I Catch It Like a Cold? tells the story of Alex and his struggle to understand his father's problem with depression. Alex learns what causes depression, what treatments are available and how he can cope and live well while his father is ill. He also learns that it's not his fault that his father has depression—and no, depression is not something you can catch, like a cold.
- Aggressive behaviour in children and youth: When is it something to be concerned about?
- Raising Resilient Children and Youth
- Tips for Parents On Building Healthy Relationships with their Teenagers
- When a parent dies by suicide: What kids want to know (PDF)
- When a parent drinks too much: What kids want to know (web page) /PDF
- When a parent has bipolar disorder: What kids want to know (web page) /PDF
- When a parent has experienced psychosis: What kids want to know (web page) / PDF
- When a parent is depressed: What kids want to know (web page) / PDF
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Mental Health and Addiction 101 Series
The Mental Health and Addiction 101 series are on line self-directed tutorials designed for anyone who wants to learn more about mental health and addiction topics.
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For more resources, visit the online CAMH publications catalogue