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 open. Each agency has its own separate scheduling process and there has never been a centralized way to make a counselling appointment.

When the COVID-19 lockdown began, Ottawa Health Team – Équipe Santé Ottawa and allied mental health and addictions service providers immediately began working to find a solution. 13 community agencies have come together with generous funding from the Ottawa Community Foundation. Starting today, children, youth, adults and families can make appointments for free same-day or next-day 45- to 90-minute phone or video counselling through one website: www.counsellingconnect.org.  

“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.”

A crisis call deals with the immediate whereas a counselling session can explore future steps a person can take with regards to their mental health and emotional wellbeing. On a crisis call the crisis call volunteer or staff will listen to the person, offer support and look at making a referral to a needed service. That needed service might be a counselling session with a registered counsellor who can work through with the person solutions to the concerns they are experiencing. 

Our data shows that one 45- to 90-minute counselling session is enough in 70 per cent of cases. If someone needs more support than that one appointment, other support options will be discussed during the 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. 

When services return to normal following the pandemic, Counselling Connect will continue to help people get the counselling they need. 

Available for interview:

• Tamara Chipperfield, Director of Mental Health and Addictions, Centretown Community Health Centre (English and French)
• Mark MacAulay, Director of Mental Health, Family Services Ottawa (English)
• Kurtis Kitagawa: former university professor and principal researcher. Lives with life-long mental health challenges and has accessed a range of supports. Mental health patient advocate with 11 organizations, including the Ottawa Health Team-Équipe Santé Ottawa (English)

Counselling Connect makes it easy to schedule a same-day or next-day counselling session with one of 13 community agencies. Before the pandemic, people received same-day counselling services mainly through walk-in services. Due to COVID-19, in-office counselling is not possible. But, all our services are open. Caring teams want to help. And, there is a critical need for quick and easy access to counselling. With planning and development support from the Ottawa Health Team-Équipe Santé Ottawa, community-based mental health and addiction counselling providers responded. 13 community agencies have made it possible to schedule a same-day or next-day counselling session through the Counselling Connect website. Children, youth, adults and families can now easily book a phone or video appointment with the service that is right for them. 

The 13 agencies are: 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, and Youth Services Bureau. Thank you to the Ottawa Community Foundation for their generous financial support.

Heather Badenoch

Village PR

613-859-8232