Staff & Faculty Mental Health Resources

Cherry blossom in front of Robarts library

Resources for students

If you are a student seeking mental health resources, please visit the U of T Student Mental Health Resource website.

The mental health and well-being of faculty, staff and teaching assistants is of the utmost importance to the Faculty of Arts & Science. The following scenarios and guidelines as well as campus and community resources are intended to help you find the support that meets your needs.

 

For additional guidance and/or support in navigating mental health resources contact:

Caroline Rabbat, Director
High Risk, Faculty Support & Mental Health
Faculty of Arts & Science
caroline.rabbat@utoronto.ca
 

 

U of T Mental Health Resources for Staff & Faculty

The following University-supported resources provide education, support, or personal life counselling to staff and faculty experiencing challenges to their mental health:

Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
1-855-597-2110 (toll free)

  • U of T employees (who participate in the University’s group benefits program) and their dependents can access short-term counselling for a wide range of personal life challenges including life transitions, family, relationships, depression, anxiety, stress, addictions and work conflict. This free, immediate, and confidential service is available by phone, web, or mobile app 24 hours per day.

HR Wellness Hub

  • Collection of wellness services, supports, and resources available to employees across the three campuses and by a range of providers.

USW Lifeline Foundation
416-944-6888

  • Provides confidential information, referral and support services either by phone or in-person to United Steelworker members and their families.

Health & Well-being Programs & Services

  • Support for U of T employees and managers involved in sick leave, long-term disability, occupational health issues, workplace injuries, and workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities. Provides support for keeping physically and mentally healthy on the job.

Campus Chaplains Association
416-946-3119

  • Support can center around personal challenges, a search for meaning in life, an exploration of spiritualties, as well as an examination of moral and ethical issues.

Equity Offices

Although not typically considered mental health resources the following campus offices can provide valuable supports to faculty and staff around challenges they are experiencing that may be impacting their mental health.

 

Community Mental Health Resources for Staff & Faculty

Accessing the right mental health care in the community can feel daunting if you’re not sure what you need or what is available. This Resource Guide for Mental Health Support (from the SCOPE team at the University Health Network) can help you navigate the options for mental health support and also consider what might be the best form of support to fit your needs. The guide provides information about:

  • Considering Options for Therapy
  • Alternative Counselling Methods (smartphone/online/self-guided)
  • Walk-in Counselling
  • Peer Support (including phone and drop-in option)
  • Free, minimal cost, and services with sliding scales

And answers the following Frequently Asked Questions:

  • What’s the difference between social workers, psychotherapists, psychologists and psychiatrists?
  • Can walk-in single-session counselling really help?
  • What is peer support? Is it right for me?
  • What are sliding scale fees/rates and when does it make sense to use them?

You can download the full guide here.

Additional mental health guides (e.g., Finding Individual Therapy for Adults, Finding Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Finding Mindfulness Programs) and mental health resources (e.g., Community Mental Health: What You Need to Know) are available on the UHN Patients & Families Community Resources Page.

Service Finders

Service Finders provide support in identifying the mental health and community services that can best meet someone’s needs. They offer confidential phone and/or chat resources in addition to online search tools.

Connex Ontario
1-866-531-2600

  • Free and confidential system navigation and information services available 24/7 for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental illness and/or gambling. Their up-to-date services database includes information on:
    • Where the service is located
    • How to access the service
    • How long the wait to access the service may be

211Toronto
2-1-1

  • Provides free, 24/7 information and referrals to community and social services within Toronto, Peel Region, York Region and Durham Region.

Psychology Today

  • Online directory of therapists, treatment centres, support groups, and online therapy

 

Scenarios & Guidelines

The following resources are available for various situations related to mental health and well-being.

Suicidal Ideation

Help is available. If you are feeling desperate, have made a plan, or otherwise feel at immediate risk, please call Emergency Services (9-1-1) or visit your local Hospital Emergency Room.

If you would like to talk about your thoughts of suicide or the challenges you’re experiencing, these crisis resources are available 24 hours a day:

Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
1-855-597-2110 (toll free)

  • Crisis or urgent support from a trained counsellor available to U of T employees (eligible to participate in the University’s group benefit program) and their dependents. Support is available 24 hours a day by phone, web, or mobile app.

Gerstein Crisis Centre
416-408-4357 (phone)  45645 (text)

  • Highly-trained volunteers provide free, confidential, one-on-one phone or chat support to individuals experiencing emotional distress, marginalization, social isolation or other forms of mental health challenges.

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto
416-929-5200

  • Crisis workers assist callers who are experiencing a mental health crisis to work out some effective ways of addressing their immediate problems and connect them to services that can offer ongoing support.  

CAMH Psychiatric Emergency Department
1051 Queen Street West

  • Provides in-person emergency assessment and treatment for adults with mental health issues.

 

Sexual Violence

If you have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment (e.g., unwelcome sexual overtures in person or electronically), you may choose to contact:

U of T Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre
416-978-2266

  • Provides confidential, non-judgmental consultation. Offers support in understanding, accessing, and navigating supports such as counselling, medical services, workplace accommodations, financial aid and legal aid. A disclosure to the Centre does not lead to a report unless the service user wants it to.

 

Safety Concerns

If you are concerned for your personal safety (on- or off-campus), you may choose to contact:

U of T Community Safety Office
416-978-1485

  • Addresses complaints, assesses personal safety risks, provides a continuum of intervention options to address personal safety concerns, co-creates safety plans, facilitates referrals and coordination with various offices in order to address safety.
  • Examples of safety concerns include: stalking and harassment, bullying and intimidation, threats, intimate partner violence, family violence, volatile behaviours and work/school conflict.

 

Seeking Counselling

Supportive counselling can be helpful in managing a wide range of adversities experienced in your personal or professional lives that challenge your mental health. The following resources may be helpful:

Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
1-855-597-2110 (toll free)

  • Confidential, short-term counselling provided to U of T employees (eligible to participate in the University’s group benefit program) and their dependents. Counselling is available for a wide range of personal life challenges including life transitions, family, relationships, depression, anxiety, stress, addictions, work conflict, etc. Available 24 hours a day by phone, web, or mobile app.

Community-Based Therapy

  • The Resource Guide for Mental Health Support (from the SCOPE team at the University Health Network) can help you navigate the options for community-based mental health care and find a support that best meets your needs.
  • You may be eligible to have some or all of the costs associated with private therapy covered as part of your employee benefits package.

Campus Chaplains Association
416-946-3119

  • Multi-faith chaplains offer holistic, one-on-one counselling and spiritual support to faculty and staff at the University.
  • Support can center around personal challenges, a search for meaning in life, an exploration of spiritualties, as well as an examination of moral and ethical issues.

 

Bullying, Threats, or Stalking

If you are experiencing bullying, threats, or stalking, the following campus resources can assist:

U of T Community Safety Office
416-978-1485

  • Addresses complaints, assesses personal safety risks, provides a continuum of intervention options to address personal safety concerns, co-creates safety plans, facilitates referrals and coordination with various offices in order to address safety.

TravelSafer
416-978-7233

  • A campus Security Guard or Special Constable will meet you at your location and escort you to any building on campus or campus TTC station.

 

Online Harassment

If you receive a message from a member of the U of T community that upsets, annoys, or frightens you, do not respond immediately. Your first reply to the sender should be a brief and courteous request to stop. If the unwelcomed messages persist, do not reply to them. Do not delete them — save them and make a hard copy — and seek advice from one of the following resources:

U of T Community Safety Office
416-978-1485

  • Addresses complaints, assesses personal safety risks, provides a continuum of intervention options to address personal safety concerns, co-creates safety plans, facilitates referrals and coordination with various offices in order to address safety.

U of T Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre
416-978-2266

  • Provides confidential, non-judgmental consultation. Offers support in understanding, accessing, and navigating supports such as counselling, medical services, academic accommodations, financial aid and legal aid. A disclosure to the Centre does not lead to a report unless the user wants it to.

 

Accommodation Requests

The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities so that they can achieve their full potential as members of the University community. If you require a workplace accommodation, contact:

Health & Well-being Services and Programs
416-978-2149

  • Assists with providing accommodation to persons with disabilities in the workplace. They provide support to employees on sick leave, long term disability, occupational health and safety issues, workplace injuries, workplace accommodations and related issues.

 

Grief & Bereavement

If you are dealing with grief or bereavement as a result of a loss, you can reach out to the following resources:

Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
1-855-597-2110 (toll free)

  • Confidential, short-term counselling provided to U of T employees (eligible to participate in the University’s group benefit program) and their dependents. Available 24 hours a day by phone, web, or mobile app.

Campus Chaplains Association
416-946-3119

  • Multi-faith chaplains offer one-on-one counselling and spiritual support. 

Bereaved Families of Ontario
416-440-0290

  • Provides an environment and resources to help people in their grief journey. Services range from one-on-one support sessions to eight-week support groups and are based on the peer-to-peer support model.