Explore available resources based on your status.
Support over the holidays
While the holidays can be a joyous time, they can also bring about stress and spread illness. If you, a family member or a friend is looking for health and wellness support during this period, know that there are many options available to students, faculty members, staff and alumni.
Available resources
In case of an emergency
Call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest Ottawa hospital or the nearest Quebec hospital emergency room.
Health care services
Health 8-1-1
- Connect with a registered nurse day or night for free, secure and confidential health advice
Get connected to health care 24/7
Visit a walk-in clinic
Only available to undergraduate students
Dialogue
- Free access 24/7 to virtual health care on the Dialogue mobile or webapp
- It’s covered through your Studentcare (UOSU) health plan, which allows students to consult doctors and nurses from anywhere in Canada
Only available to student-staff
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
- Available for free for employees (faculty members and staff, including student-staff)
- Available 24/7, 365 days a year
- Bilingual (French and English)
- Confidential and voluntary support service that can help you find solutions to all kinds of challenges related to work, your health or life in general
Only available to student-staff
Telemedicine
- Included as part of the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
- Available for free for employees (faculty members and staff, including student-staff)
- Available 24/7, 365 days a year
- Bilingual (French and English)
- Direct and speedy online access to general practitioners regardless of your province of residence. Wait times minimal and you do not have to leave your home or office
- Includes medical consultations, assessments, prescription renewals, referrals to specialists and laboratory requisitions
When to access care and how to manage minor illnesses at home
Many issues that are presented in the emergency room are ones that can be addressed by a general practitioner (or family doctor), a nurse, or at home. The opposite is also true: Many issues that are presented in walk-in clinics are ones that should be addressed by urgent care providers.
Learn when to access care based on your symptoms or condition
Mental health services
Explore available resources based on your status.
Therapy Assisted Online (TAO)
- Free for uOttawa community members (including students!)
- Available 24/7, 365 days a year
- Self-help at your own pace. Complete anytime, anywhere you have Internet access.
- Online platform of tools and educational modules to help you learn about and change how you think and feel
Good2Talk
- Free helpline for all Ontario college and university students
- Available 24/7, 365 days a year
- Bilingual: English and French
- Call: 1-866-925-5454
- Text: GOOD2TALKON to 686868
Crisis Text Line
- Free, text-based helpline that can be used by anyone, in any type of crisis
- Available 24/7, 365 days a year
- From Canada, text HOME for English or PARLER for French to 741741
- No need for a data plan or Internet connection
Suicide Crisis Helpline (9-8-8)
- Call or text 9-8-8
- Can call for yourself or to help someone else
- Available throughout Canada
- Available 24/7, 365 days a year
Ottawa Walk-In Counselling Clinic
The Ottawa Walk-In Counselling Clinic will be open most of the holiday season.
Empower Me
- Offered free to undergraduate students registered under the Student Health Plan (Studentcare), by the University of Ottawa Student Union (UOSU)
- Available 24/7, 365 days a year
- Bilingual (French and English)
- Connect with qualified mental health professionals for a variety of issues
- The sessions can be delivered in person, by telephone, by video-counselling, or by e-counselling
My Student Support Program (SSP)
- Offered free to graduate students through the Graduate Student Association (GSAÉD)
- Available 24/7, 365 days a year
- Bilingual (French and English)
- Type in “University of Ottawa” or “GSAÉD” to identify your institution
Only available to student-staff
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
- Available for free for employees (faculty members and staff, including student-staff)
- Available 24/7, 365 days a year
- Bilingual (French and English)
- Confidential and voluntary support service that can help you find solutions to all kinds of challenges related to work, your health or life in general
Only available to student-staff
Telemedicine
- Included as part of the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
- Available for free for employees (faculty members and staff, including student-staff)
- Available 24/7, 365 days a year
- Bilingual (French and English)
- Direct and speedy online access to general practitioners regardless of your province of residence. Wait times minimal and you do not have to leave your home or office
- Includes medical consultations, assessments, prescription renewals, referrals to specialists and laboratory requisitions
Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region
- Free access 24/7, 365 days a year
- Call 613-238-3311
- A safe space to talk
