WEBSITES
Trusted places to go deeper
This list is simply where I'd suggest starting. If you've found something that works for you and isn't here, I'd love to hear about it. You can reach me at tj@stillherecanada.ca
Canadian Mental Health Association — cmha.ca
Canada's most trusted mental health resource — local branch finder, self-help tools, crisis support, and education.
Centre of Excellence for Women's Health — cewh.ca
A non-profit organization advancing women's health and gender equity through research, partnerships, and action for over 30 years. Their work covers trauma-informed practice, gender-based violence, Indigenous women's health, substance use, and maternal health — all through a lens that takes sex, gender, and equity seriously. The website includes free downloadable resources, webinars, journal articles, and practical guides on topics ranging from chronic pain to intimate partner violence. Particularly valuable for women survivors navigating health systems that weren't always designed with them in mind.
She Recovers Canada — sherecovers.org/canada
SHE RECOVERS is a global grassroots movement serving women and non-binary individuals in or seeking recovery from life challenges including trauma, substance use, grief and loss, eating disorders, burnout, and love addiction. Founded in 2011 by a Canadian mother and daughter in long-term recovery, it was granted charitable status in Canada in 2022 — making it one of the most personal and peer-driven women's recovery movements available. The site includes community connection, coaching, events, and resources specifically designed for women who are done pretending they're fine.
Women's Shelters Canada — endvaw.ca
A national network representing women's shelters and transition houses across every province and territory. The site connects women to local shelter services, offers resources on leaving abusive situations safely, and advocates nationally for women and children fleeing violence. If someone using the Still Here local help finder needs shelter rather than just a crisis line, this is the place to send them.
Men & Healing — menandhealing.ca
One of Canada's leading agencies in a male-centred approach to psychology and therapy, Men & Healing specializes in trauma recovery for men — including childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Their programming is evidence-based, professionally evaluated, and comes with proof of outcome studies, multiple awards, and international recognition. Services include individual psychotherapy, group trauma recovery programs, anger management, and emotional integrity groups. They also offer a newsletter, video series on trauma, and a book — Men's Road to Healing — described as a comprehensive and compassionate guide for men recovering from childhood abuse. Based in Ottawa but their resources are valuable to men across Canada.
HeadsUpGuys — headsupguys.org
The world's leading men's mental health resource — HeadsUpGuys is built specifically for men dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts, and for the people who want to support them. The site includes over 100 real recovery stories from men who have been through it, expert-backed self-help articles, a depression self-check tool, free self-guided courses, a therapist directory, and practical guidance on how to talk to someone you're worried about. As seen on CBC, CTV News, Global TV, Men's Health, and the Vancouver Sun. Free, credible, and built with the understanding that men often need a different entry point into mental health support than what's traditionally offered.
Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada — endingviolencecanada.org
A national non-profit organization that works collaboratively across Canada to provide a unified voice on sexual violence through research, education, policy change, and advocacy. Their website includes reports, advocacy tools, webinars, and a comprehensive Getting Help page with a province-by-province directory of sexual assault centres and crisis lines across the country — which is also linked directly from the Still Here local help finder. Note: they do not provide individual counselling or crisis response directly — for immediate support visit their Getting Help page or contact your local sexual assault centre..
Hope for Wellness Helpline — hopeforwellness.ca
Available 24/7 to all Indigenous people across Canada — the Hope for Wellness Helpline offers both phone and online chat support in English and French, with some services available in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut. The website includes additional resources, FAQs, and links to further Indigenous mental health support beyond the helpline itself. Proudly inclusive of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Phone: 1-855-242-3310 · Free · 24/7 · All Indigenous peoples across Canada
It Gets Better Canada — itgetsbettercanada.org
A Canadian registered charity committed to building caring, supportive, and nurturing communities for 2SLGBTQ+ youth across Canada. The website includes real community stories, toolkits and guides, videos, podcasts, anti-bullying workshops for schools, and a dedicated Get Help section with crisis resources. Their vision is a day when no young person in Canada feels marginalized, isolated, excluded, or rejected because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. An important resource for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and the adults who support them.
Trans Lifeline — translifeline.org
Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive — run by and for trans people, and divested from police since day one. Beyond the crisis hotline, the website includes a resource library, an ID change library to help with legal name and gender marker changes, microgrants for trans people in financial need, and the Safe Hotlines initiative advocating for crisis support that actually works for the trans community. One of the most important trans-specific resources in North America.
ACEs Hub — aceshub.org
A comprehensive platform providing research, data, and evidence-based insights on Adverse Childhood Experiences — created by an interdisciplinary team of researchers and practitioners to consolidate the science on ACEs. The site includes a searchable catalogue of ACEs studies, a prevalence tool showing the scale of each adverse childhood experience across populations, plain-language information about what ACEs are, and a curated resource library. Particularly valuable if you scored high on the ACEs calculator on this site and want to understand the research behind what that score means for your health and healing.
Psychology Today — Find a Therapist — psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists
Filter by location, specialty, insurance, and therapy type. Search for 'trauma-informed' or 'EMDR' to narrow results. This is how I found the therapist who finally said the right thing.
The Holistic Psychologist — theholisticpsychologist.com
Dr. Nicole LePera's platform — one of the most accessible and honest voices in trauma recovery online. Free content, tools, and community.