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notalone.ca
Youth Mental Health Navigator

Whether you're a parent navigating the system or a young person who needs support — Not Alone helps you find the right help, understand your options, and know you're not alone.

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notalone.ca
Not Alone guides you toward real human support — it does not replace it. In a crisis, call 9-8-8 or go to your nearest emergency room.
🔒 This conversation is completely private and never stored or shared
1 in 5
Canadians experience mental illness by age 25
MHCC
70%
of symptoms begin before age 18
CIHI
1.2M
Canadian children & youth affected
MHCC
67 days
average wait for youth counselling
CAMH
36%
of youth have unmet mental health needs
CIHI 2024
$50B
annual economic cost of mental illness
CAMH

Millions of Canadians are on this road. You are not alone.

📍
Find Support
Crisis lines, mental health resources, parent & youth support — by province.
102+ RESOURCES
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🧠
Conditions & Symptoms
Plain-language explanations — what families need to know.
12 CONDITIONS
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Medications Explained
What they do, side effects, and what to ask your doctor.
8 CLASSES
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Financial Assistance & Support
DTC, RDSP, CDB, AISH, ODSP, PWD — eligibility, how to apply, what you get.
FEDERAL + ALL PROVINCES
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Start Here — Federal Foundation
Step 1: DTC Approval → Step 2: Open RDSP → Step 3: Apply CDB → Step 4: Provincial Program
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Housing & Transition
Resources for young people and families navigating housing.
33 RESOURCES
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For Young People

If you are looking for housing information or support — this section is here for you. Every situation is unique. These resources exist to help young people find stable housing and connect with the right supports.

Health Card SIN Number Psychiatrist contact Medication list 9-8-8 saved in your phone
For Families

If you are a family member looking for housing resources for a young person — these organizations exist to help. Every family's situation is different and these resources are here to support young people and families in finding the right path forward together.

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Emergency & Hospital Care
Key psychiatric hospitals and live ER wait time resources.
15 HOSPITALS
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Live ER Wait Times
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Research & Evidence
Key Canadian studies and papers families should know about.
20 STUDIES
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❤️
Donate & Support
Organizations doing extraordinary work for Canadian youth and families.
16 CHARITIES
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⚖️
Know Your Rights
Things worth knowing as you navigate the mental health system — not legal advice.
8 CONSIDERATIONS
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These are things worth knowing as you navigate the system. Every situation is unique. For specific legal questions, speaking with a patient advocate or legal aid service in your province is the right step. This section is for awareness only — not legal advice.

🤝 Informed Consent
The right to understand and agree to treatment
For consent to be valid it must be both informed and voluntary. This means you — or your child — have the right to receive clear information about any proposed treatment: what it is, how it works, its potential benefits, its material risks, available alternatives, and what happens if treatment is declined. A diagnosis does not remove the right to ask questions or to refuse. If you feel rushed or unclear, it is reasonable to ask for more time and more information.
🚫 Right to Refuse
Declining treatment is a legal right
Adults and capable youth have the right to refuse treatment — even treatment a doctor strongly recommends. If a care provider has concerns about a person's capacity to make decisions, there is a formal process for assessing that capacity. Capacity can be specific to a decision, and can change over time. If you are uncertain whether capacity has been assessed or what that means for your family, a patient advocate can help explain the process.
👨‍👩‍👧 Substitute Decision-Makers
When someone cannot make decisions for themselves
If a practitioner determines that a person lacks the capacity to make a specific decision, a substitute decision-maker steps in. Every province has legislation setting out who qualifies — typically starting with a court-appointed guardian, then spouse or partner, then parents, then adult children, then siblings. If you are a parent of an adult child who may lack capacity, ask the treatment team what the formal process is in your province. Understanding this in advance makes difficult situations more manageable.
🏥 Voluntary vs Involuntary Admission
What each means and what rights remain
A voluntary admission means the person agrees to be in hospital. An involuntary admission — sometimes called a Form 1 in Ontario, or equivalent in other provinces — means a doctor has determined the person meets specific legal criteria: they have a mental disorder, they pose a serious risk of harm to themselves or others, and that risk cannot be managed outside hospital. Involuntary admissions have time limits, must be reviewed regularly, and the person retains legal rights throughout. Every province has its own Mental Health Act governing this process. Ask the treatment team to explain the specific form and process being used.
🔒 Privacy of Health Information
Your health information belongs to you
Health information cannot be shared without consent except in limited defined circumstances — most commonly when there is imminent risk of serious harm, when a minor is in danger, or when specific legal requirements apply. Every province has privacy legislation governing health records: Alberta has the Health Information Act (HIA), BC has FOIPPA and PIPA, Ontario has PHIPA, and Quebec has the Act Respecting the Protection of Personal Information in the Private Sector. If you feel your privacy has not been respected, you can file a complaint with your provincial privacy commissioner.
📋 Right to Access Your Records
You can request your own health records
You have the right to request access to your own health records from any provider. This includes clinical notes, assessments, diagnoses, and medication records. Requests are typically made in writing. There may be an administrative fee. Providers may withhold specific information if they have reasonable grounds to believe access would cause serious harm — but this is a high bar, not a routine refusal. If access is denied, you have the right to appeal.
💬 Right to Ask Questions
You are entitled to clear answers
You have the right to ask questions about your diagnosis, treatment plan, medications and their side effects, expected timeline, and alternatives. Providers are expected to answer in plain language. You can bring a support person to any appointment. You can ask to slow down, repeat information, or provide it in writing. If you feel your questions are not being answered, you can request a second opinion, ask to speak with a supervisor, or contact the patient relations office at the hospital or clinic.
🗣️ Patient Advocacy
You don't have to navigate complaints alone
Psychiatric Patient Advocate Offices (PPAOs) exist in several provinces and are independent of the hospital or health authority. They can explain your rights, help you understand forms and processes, and support you in raising concerns. Legal aid services in most provinces include mental health legal supports. CMHA chapters across Canada can help connect families to advocacy resources. If you are in hospital or supporting someone who is, asking to speak with a patient advocate is always appropriate and does not reflect negatively on your care.
Where to learn more
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Terms of Use
Simple, plain language — what you need to know.
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We're here to guide you — not replace your care team

Not Alone is a navigation tool. It helps you understand your options, find local resources, and prepare for appointments with real professionals. It is not a substitute for a doctor, therapist, psychiatrist, or counsellor. If you're in crisis, please call 9-8-8 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Your privacy matters deeply to us

Your conversations on Not Alone are completely private. We do not store, record, read, or share what you discuss here. Every conversation ends when you close your browser. Nothing is saved.

This is a safe, judgment-free space

Not Alone is for everyone — parents, youth, families of all backgrounds. We do not collect personal information. We do not judge.

In a crisis

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For mental health crisis support, call 9-8-8 — available 24/7 by call or text.

Last updated: May 2026 · notalone.ca

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Contact & Feedback
Your feedback makes Not Alone better for every family that comes after you.
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Share your feedback

Noticed something missing? A resource that's outdated? We want to know.

✉️ feedback@notalone.ca

Share your story

If your family has navigated the mental health system and you'd like to help others, we'd love to hear from you.

✉️ Share your experience
Our Story

Not Alone was built by a family who spent five years navigating Canada's mental health system — 4 hospitalizations, over 100 meetings with doctors and counsellors, a dozen medications, and no map to guide them through any of it.

This is the tool we wish we had. Not a replacement for the doctors, therapists, and counsellors who do extraordinary work — but a guide to help families find them, understand them, and advocate alongside them.

It's free. It will always be free. Because no family should have to figure this out alone.

Here are the recommended steps. Use the chat assistant for guidance specific to your situation.

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What could we do better?