Resources for Surviving a Pandemic Holiday
December 23, 2020
The holidays can be a challenging time in an ordinary year: increased family obligations, financial stress, gatherings centred around food and alcohol and at times heightened feelings of loneliness. But with COVID-19 restrictions, this year may pose an extra challenge to maintaining your sense of overall wellness.
We’ve put together a few resources from other organizations to help you cope this holiday as well as a list of service changes for some of our member organizations.
Toolkits:
EHN’s Mental Health Survival Guide Holiday Edition
Eating Disorder Holiday Survival Guide (NEDIC)
10 Tips for Staying Sober During the Holidays (Recoveryanswers.org)
How to Cope if You’re Spending the Holiday Season Alone (The Temper)
Peer Support – Holiday Service Changes
Mental Health Rights Coalition
Services: Phone peer support
Holiday Hours: 12-3pm (Dec 23-Jan 31 including weekends)
Contact Info: 905-545-2525
CMHA Peel Dufferin
Services: Virtual Holiday Dropin (join by phone or web)
Holiday Hours: Tuesday Dec 22 & 29, 1-3pm; Thursday Dec 24 & 31, 10am-12pm
Contact Info: 905-545-2525
Other Resources: https://cmhapeeldufferin.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/December-2020-CMHA-PD-Virtual-Groups-Calendar_Dec_7.pdf
Durham Mental Health Services
Services: 24 hour crisis line, crisis beds limited, groups available
Holiday Hours: Crisis bed and lines never close
Contact Info: 905-666-0483 or 1800-742-1890
CMHA Fort Frances Branch/Peer Program
Services: All program close Dec 24 at 2pm Reopen Jan 4
Holiday Hours: Closed Dec 24 @ 2pm – Reopen Jan 4
Contact Info: Kenora/Rainy River Crisis Response 24 Hour Crisis Line 1-866-888-8988
Self Help & Peer Support, CMHA Waterloo Wellington
Services: Virtual groups operating as usual. 1:1 peer support operating as usual online and in-person at reduced locations (Kitchener and Guelph) see schedule https://cmhawwselfhelp.ca/events/
Holiday Hours: Normal hours, closed statutory holidays
Contact Info: selfhelpgroup@cmhaww.ca 519 570-4595
Other Resources: Schedule of groups: https://cmhawwselfhelp.ca/events/
Centre for Innovation in Peer Support
Services: Slightly modified groups schedule over the holidays. Virtual programs offered every day except Sunday, even on Christmas and New Years day
Holiday Hours: Normal hours
Contact Info: 1-833-845-9355 x 390
Other Resources: Full calendar of events
Consumer Survivor Initiative of Niagara
Services: Warm line
Holiday Hours: 6pm-12am, 7 days a week
Contact Info: 1-866-550-5205
Other Resources: Warm line poster