Community Resources

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)

Founded in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is the most established, most extensive community mental health organization in Canada. Through a presence in more than 330 communities across every province and one territory, CMHA provides advocacy, programs and resources that help to prevent mental health problems and illnesses, support recovery and resilience, and enable all Canadians to flourish and thrive.

With one national office, 11 divisions in all provinces and one territory, and 75 community-based branches/regions, we provide services and supports to over 1.3 million Canadians through the combined efforts of more than 5,000 staff and 11,000 volunteers.

Victim Services Durham

Victim Services of Durham Region (VSDR) provides crisis response, intervention and prevention services immediately following a crime or sudden tragedy. Our services are free and confidential. On-site or over the phone, our flexible Crisis Intervention Counsellors, and Volunteer Responders, are well trained to handle crises. VSDR is a registered charity founded in 1997. We are on call 24/7 to respond to police requests for victim assistance.

Durham Distress Centre (DCD)

Distress Centre Durham helps people in distress to cope, by providing emotional support, crisis/suicide management and community education. Our values provide the philosophical foundations for all that we do, collectively and individually, with service users, responder volunteers, staff and our communities.

Durham Mental Health Services (DMHS)

Durham Mental Health Services (DMHS) is a charitable not-for-profit agency providing services and supports to individuals and families who are living with mental health concerns. Operating under the direction of a volunteer Board of Directors, staff work in partnership with clients, offering services that are person-centred and sensitive to individual needs.

DMHS began operation in 1987 when a coalition of parishioners at Whitby All Saint’s Anglican Church recognized that others in the community, suffering from severe mental health issues, were in desperate need of safe, affordable housing. Now, over 20 years later, DMHS has grown into an agency with over one hundred employees. DMHS offers a range of mental health services, at locations spread throughout the Durham Region.

Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Services

Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) is a public teaching hospital providing a range of specialized assessment and treatment services to those living with complex and serious mental illness. Exemplary patient care is delivered through safe and evidence-based approaches where successful outcomes are achieved using best clinical practices and the latest advances in research. Patients benefit from a recovery-oriented environment of care built on compassion, inspiration and hope.