We know therapy can be expensive, and that cost keeps many people from getting support when they need it. Everyone deserves access to mental health care, whatever their budget. That's why we put together this list of free and low-cost mental health services across Canada. It includes crisis lines, counselling, peer support, and online programs run by governments, hospitals, universities, and nonprofits.
Every resource here was checked by the Shift Collab team, and we only list services that are currently running. Start with the national services, or jump to your province or territory below.
Last verified October 2026.
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Free, confidential help finding government and community health and social services, in 150+ languages.
Free, 24/7 support for anyone thinking about suicide or worried about someone else.
Find your nearest CMHA branch, with locations in 330 communities across Canada; programs and services vary by branch.
Official Government of Canada list of free crisis lines, helplines, and mental health services, with resources for every province and territory.
Free 24/7 counselling and crisis support for Indigenous peoples across Canada, by phone or online chat.
Government-funded emotional and cultural support and counselling for residential school Survivors and their families, plus a 24-hour crisis line.
Free, confidential 24/7 support by phone or text in English and French from trained responders.
Non-profit helpline that makes mental health support easier for women to access.
Toll-free emotional support for anyone affected by missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
Canada's national toll-free helpline and live chat for eating disorder information and support.
Weekly virtual peer support groups on many topics, moderated by professionals, on a pay-what-you-can basis.
Non-profit offering coached mental health programs by phone and online for children and their families.
Supportive text messages that help people manage negative thoughts, feelings, and stress.
Peer support phone line run by trans people for trans and questioning peers, weekdays 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
Free, 24/7 short-term psychological support with a mental health professional for Veterans, former RCMP members, families, and caregivers.
National charity offering evidence-based mental health programs.
Charitable counselling in Calgary with short wait times and pay-what-you-can fees.
Confidential live-chat crisis support, emotional support, and resources from the Canadian Mental Health Association in Edmonton.
Directory of Edmonton agencies offering free drop-in, single-session therapy in person or virtually.
Counselling for children, youth, adults, and families in Alberta; free for low-income clients and subsidized for others.
Same-day sliding-scale counselling for individuals, couples, and families, plus free drop-in support groups.
Free counselling, groups, and court support for people of all genders who have experienced sexual violence.
Sliding-scale counselling in Edmonton, with fees as low as $5 and no one turned away.
Free guided self-help, online or by phone with a coach, for low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, or stress.
Low-cost counselling ($50–$80) for men in the 2SLGBTQ+ community in British Columbia.
Reduced-fee counselling with interns at $15–$65, based on income and household size.
Free drop-in counselling for Manitoba residents aged 13 and older.
Free programs and resources, including a Friendly Caller peer support line.
Free programs including youth DBT, domestic violence support, and counselling for immigrant women; some have waitlists.
Free drop-in counselling, support groups, and housing help for youth and families in crisis in Winnipeg.
Free counselling in Winnipeg for anyone aged 14 and older.
Free in-person therapy for individuals, couples, families, and youth in the Fredericton region; no referral needed.
Low-cost to no-cost therapy for adults and youth in Saint John or by phone or Zoom, priced by household income.
Free online mental health and addictions information, self-help tools, and directions to more support in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Government-funded single-session walk-in counselling for youth and adults across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Support for women and non-binary people experiencing violence, including Right Here, Right Now drop-in or call-in counselling.
Free, anonymous, clinically moderated online peer support community, available 24/7.
Free peer support and community programs for 2SLGBTQ+ people in Yellowknife, mainly under 30.
Free counselling and referrals in every NWT region, with counsellors in 20 communities and phone or fly-in service elsewhere.
Free, confidential 24/7 phone support for NWT residents, now part of the territory's 8-1-1 service.
Provincial intake line that connects people to mental health and addictions programs by need and location.
Short-term drop-in counselling through the North End Community Health Centre in Halifax.
Sliding-scale and reduced-rate therapy with psychotherapists and social workers for people who can't otherwise afford it.
Free, confidential help finding community, social, health, and government services across Ontario.
Single access point in the Champlain region that connects people to mental health and addiction services that fit their needs.
Addiction services for women and gender-diverse people in Ottawa.
Grief support groups led by trained volunteers with professional guidance.
Free guided self-help with phone coaching, workbooks, and videos for mild to moderate anxiety or depression.
French-language support for women aged 16+ who have experienced sexual violence.
Therapy, parenting, legal, and abuse-support programs for boys, men, fathers, and their families.
DBT group for young people who struggle with emotional regulation.
Children's hospital providing mental health services to children, youth, and families in eastern Ontario.
Provincial institute in London providing specialized treatment for children and youth with complex needs, working with families and local providers.
Canadian Mental Health Association branch providing mental health supports and services in Ottawa.
Connects Ottawa residents to free same-day or next-day phone or video counselling with publicly funded agencies.
Ottawa treatment centre for children up to 12 with emotional or behavioural challenges, including a free by-appointment family clinic.
Non-profit residential and community addiction treatment for youth aged 13–21 and their families.
Counselling, education, and support for 2SLGBTQ+ people and families in Ottawa.
Online therapy with supervised Gestalt students at $40 per 50-minute session.
Low-cost psychotherapy (about $60–$80, up to 12 sessions) for adults facing financial barriers.
Provincial organization offering education and support for people living with mood disorders.
Specialized Montfort program for people living with both serious mental illness and addiction.
French-language dialectical behaviour therapy program at Montfort Hospital in Ottawa.
Brief individual psychotherapy (up to six months) from an interdisciplinary hospital team in Ottawa.
Support for women affected by domestic violence, including a 24/7 crisis line and emergency shelter.
French-language mental health and addictions services in Ottawa, formed from Centre psychosocial and Maison Fraternité.
Substance use and problem gambling counselling for seniors across Ottawa, through Centretown Community Health Centre.
Publicly funded Hamilton charity providing evidence-based mental health services for children and youth.
Inuit-specific eight-week residential treatment program in Ottawa for adults 18+.
24/7 crisis line for anyone in crisis, or worried about someone, in Ottawa and nearby counties.
Services for children, youth, and families in the Cochrane and Timiskaming districts.
Non-profit Ottawa agency supporting adults, youth, and families affected by addiction or problem gambling.
Individual and group support for children, youth, and families living with a progressive life-limiting illness.
Government-funded addiction programs in Thunder Bay, including outpatient counselling and a residential program for women.
Franco-Ontarian organization supporting autistic people and their families.
Community health centre providing health and social services in south-east Ottawa.
Inpatient and outpatient mental health programs, including first-episode psychosis and eating disorder care.
Mental health hospital in Ottawa with inpatient, outpatient, and specialized programs for youth and adults.
Royal Ottawa program treating addiction alongside other mental health needs.
Royal Ottawa service for youth aged 16–25 with serious mental health and substance use concerns.
Non-profit residential program in Ottawa for women recovering from substance use.
Ottawa health centre providing holistic, culturally relevant care, including mental health, for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people.
Barrier-free brief counselling for children, youth up to 26, and families; no health card or appointment needed.
Peer support and mental health programs for Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans.
Free single-session virtual counselling in Toronto, with drop-in hours on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
Toronto walk-in clinic and up to 12 free counselling sessions for adults over 25, in person or virtual.
Accredited child and youth mental health agency in Ottawa supporting young mothers and their children.
Free counselling for Islanders caring for someone living with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia.
Individual, couples, and family counselling for $100 or less, based on income and dependents.
Free, bilingual online CBT for public safety personnel, including a well-being course and a PTSD course.
Ten weekly individual, couples, or child and youth sessions with supervised students in Montreal, after a $50 registration fee.
Free one-on-one counselling, groups, and referrals in Montreal for people affected by substance or behavioural addictions.
Low-cost therapy in Montreal with supervised psychology students.
$40 individual sessions in Montreal with supervised master's and doctoral students; self-referrals welcome.
Counselling for individuals, couples, and families with fees based on ability to pay, plus free walk-in counselling.
No-wait, no-cost walk-in and virtual counselling for youth and adults through partner organizations.
Free counselling for children, youth, adults, and families in Estevan, Weyburn, Carlyle, and Oxbow.
Sliding-scale counselling for individuals, couples, and families; no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Sliding-scale counselling and groups for adults and youth, in person, by phone, or on Zoom.
Free single-session walk-in counselling in northeast Saskatchewan.
Sliding-scale counselling, art therapy, and sand tray therapy in Regina; no one is turned away for finances.
Free counselling (up to eight sessions) by appointment through the Canadian Mental Health Association Yukon Division.
Shift Collab, Toronto, Ontario, Canada