Mental Health Crisis & Treatment Resources in Toronto: Hospitals & Emergency Contacts

Toronto offers a dense network of hospital-based mental health services, anchored by academic health science centres. Below are key facilities with emergency departments and specialized psychiatric programs—not a substitute for 911 in life-threatening emergencies.

Major Hospital Emergency Departments (24/7 Psychiatric Assessment)

• CAMH — Queen Street Site (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)
  1001 Queen St W, M6J 1H4 | 416-535-8501
  Canada's largest mental health teaching hospital. Dedicated psych ED, inpatient units, specialized clinics (mood, anxiety, psychosis, geriatric, youth, substance use).
• Toronto East General Hospital (Michael Garron Hospital)
  825 Coxwell Ave, M4C 3E7 | 416-469-6011 (main) / 416-469-6222 (ED)
  East End hub; crisis intervention, brief admission, outpatient follow-up.
• St. Joseph's Health Centre
  30 The Queensway, M6R 1B5 | 416-530-2491
  West End; psychiatric ED, inpatient, strong community linkage.
• Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  2075 Bayview Ave, M4N 3M5 | 416-480-4000
  Trauma centre; psychiatric emergency, consultation-liaison, mood/anxiety disorders clinic.
• The Scarborough Hospital (SHN - Centenary)
  3050 Lawrence Ave E, M1P 2V5 | 416-438-2911
  East Scarborough; psych ED, cultural psychiatry program.
• North York General Hospital
  4001 Leslie St, M2K 1E1 | 416-494-2222
  North York; psych ED, geriatric psychiatry, perinatal mental health.
• Etobicoke General Hospital (William Osler Health System)
  2050 Islington Ave, M9P 1H7 | 416-243-4000
  West Toronto; psych assessment, inpatient, assertive community treatment.
• Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)
  555 University Ave, M5G 1X8 | 416-813-7654
  Pediatric mental health only (up to 18); ED, inpatient, specialized clinics (eating disorders, oncology psych, neurodevelopmental).

Crisis Lines (Non-Emergency but Urgent)

• 988 — Canada Suicide Prevention Service (24/7, call/text).
• 416-408-4357 — Toronto Distress Centres (24/7).
• 1-866-925-5454 — Gerstein Crisis Centre (mobile crisis teams, safe beds).
• 211 — Community navigation (housing, counseling, food, legal).

Community & Outpatient Access

• CAMH Access CAMH (1-800-463-6273) — Central intake for non-urgent referrals.
• Family Health Teams / CHCs — Embedded mental health counselors (OHIP-covered).
• ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) — Province-wide service directory.

Critical Notes

• Wait times: Non-urgent specialist referrals can be months. Crisis = ED or 988.
• OHIP coverage: Psychiatrist visits covered; most psychotherapy not (unless hospital-based or FHT).
• Language: Interpretation services available at hospitals (request at registration).
• Youth (12–25): Stella's Place (54 Wolseley St), Youthdale, LOFT — low-barrier access.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. For urgent but non-lethal crises, go to the nearest hospital ED above or call 988. Toronto's system is strained but comprehensive—persistence finds the right door.