Supports for HCW

Mental Health Supports for Health Care Workers: Self-Referral

Individuals who meet the following criteria are eligible to self-refer for wellness support/psychotherapy and psychiatric services  you are a health care worker in Ontario and you require mental health and/or addictions support.

Please note that in addition to CAMH, the following hospitals continue to offer similar self-referral services for those requiring mental health supports: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences; St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton; The Royal Mental Health Centre, and Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. Learn more.
  

Ontario Medical Association Physicians Health Program

The Physician Health Program (PHP) provides confidential support for individuals who are struggling with substance use and mental health concerns, as well as with other behaviours that have a personal and professional impact. Learn more.
   

Care for Caregivers

Supporting the Mental Health of Healthcare Providers
Caring for yourself is especially important when caring for others. They help you prioritize your well-being through a variety of free resources including peer support, webinars, podcasts, useful tips and leader training. Their aim is to foster a resilient community of caregivers supporting caregivers. Lean more. 
  

Managing Your Stress and Anxiety

From: CAMH
The Managing Your Stress and Anxiety app provides  tips and oping strategies to help manage your mental health. Available on both iOS and Android.
  

Mindfulness Coach

From: US Veterans Affairs
Mindfulness Coach helps users understand and adopt a simple mindfulness practice, which can help reduce stress, improve emotional balance and help with anxiety and depression. Created by the US Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD to help veterans and service members, but can be used by a wider audience. Learn more.

PTSD Coach Canada

From: Veterans Affairs Canada
PTSD Coach Canada can help users learn about and manage their PTSD symptoms, and includes education, self-assessment tools and resources. The app is based on the PTSD Coach app from US Veterans Affairs and adapted by Veterans Affairs Canada with assistance from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). Originally developed for military personnel but can be used widely. Learn more.
  

CBT-i Coach

From: US Veterans Affairs (VA)
With a focus on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for insomnia, CBT-i Coach includes a number of tools for managing, monitoring and learning about sleep schedules. Originally developed by the U.S. Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD for military personnel and veterans, it can also be used by a wider audience. Learn more. 

Guidance for HCW

ECHO Coping with COVID-19 for health care providers

ECHO Ontario Mental Health Coping with COVID aims to promote resilience, provide skills and resources and build a community of practice amongst Canadian health care providers currently supporting the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more.
  

Recognizing and Supporting Care for People with Long Covid

An ECHO Integrated Mental and Physical Health Special Topic of Interest: Long COVID
March 19, 2024
with Family Doctor Dr. Javed Alloo, Registered Psychotherapist & Occupational Therapist Megha Vatsya and UHN Emergency Physician Dr. Jennifer Hulme. See more videos on Covid-19 from ECHO Coping with Covid.

Health at work: Resource Hub for HCW

These resources from CAMH Education increase awareness of the challenges facing health care workers, provide informal assessment and offer strategies that promote well-being and reduce the impact of burnout, compassion fatigue and moral distress among health care workers. There are e-guides on Compassion Fatigue and Moral Distress and Toolkits on Wellness in the Workplace and Leader's Psychological Safety. Registration is free. Learn more.
  

Digital COVID-19 and Mental Health Resource List 

A CAMH research team, in consultation with health care providers, digital and mental health experts, and people with lived experience, has curated a list of websites and mobile apps. 

Visit the Resource List page. 

For more information, please see the attached overview.
  

Covid-19 professionals and practitioners resources

British Psychological Society
Since 1901, the British Psychological Society has represented and promoted psychology, psychologists and the wider psychological professions. Learn more

WHO Academy

From: World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Health Organization has launched an app for health care workers on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the initial release has limited mental health resources, the app does include useful training and virtual workshops on infection prevention control, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and many other topics. Learn more.