Get Help
Across boundaries helps support Black and racialized individuals who are suffering from a mental illness and/or addiction(s). Our services address the systemic barriers and complex needs experienced by people from racialized communities.
Accessing Our Services
Get information about the programs and services we offer at Across Boundaries including other mental health resources in the community, consultation information, advocacy and referral to other services as needed.
Our holistic approach to mental health care includes case management services that are anchored in anti-racist, and anti-oppressive frameworks.
To speak with an Across Boundaries Program Coordinator, please call (416) 787-3007.
Individuals 16 years of age and older who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness. For eligibility inquires, please contact us.
Caribbean Dialects
African Languages -Shona, Amharic, Harare, Xhosa, Tsonga, Afrikaans, Swahili, Somali, Twi
Central Asian Languages – Dari, Pashto, Farsi (Persian)
South Asian Languages – Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali
South East Asian Languages – Mandarin
Give us a call at (416) 787-3007 or you can apply online by filling out this Access Point Form and indicating Across Boundaries as the preferred service provider. The Access Point is an Intake Service that provides coordinated access for Case Management Services in Toronto.
Requirements
To be admitted into any of our mental health programs and support services, you must:
- Have a severe mental illness, severe mental health problem and/or addiction.
- Be a member of a racialized community (e.g. Black/African, South Asian, West Asian, Arab, South-East Asian, Latin American of Color).
- Be a resident of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
- Have suffered or may be at risk of suffering from a breakdown in community living because of functional limitations.
- Have had frequent breakdowns in community living including hospitalizations.
- Have one or more of the following Support needs:
a) Isolated without social or family support
b) Lacks appropriate supports to meet mental health needs - Is on a waiting list for Case Management
- Needs structured activity
- Involvement in a support program is needed to maintain community living
If you are living in York Region, please contact Streamlined Access in York Region at 1-(888) 695-0070 ext. 2278 or visit their website.
The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP)
The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) program provides free and convenient therapy to help individuals (aged 18+) who are struggling with depression, stress, and anxiety-related conditions. This program teaches individuals strategies and skills to improve their mental health. OSP services are based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is collaborative, goal focused and involves light reading and practice.
Services are offered in multiple languages and are provided in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Across Boundaries and Hong Fook Mental Health Association to individuals in York Region, South Simcoe, North York, North Etobicoke and Malton.
Local OSP services include:
- Guided CBT-based Self-help: The BounceBack Ontario program provides telephone coaching, skill-building workshops and online videos.
- Clinician Assisted Bibliotherapy: Participants receive weekly, 30-minute telephone sessions with a Clinician, and are guided through a gold-standard CBT self-help workbook.
- Individual or Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Participants receive weekly, one-hour sessions with a Clinician, either virtually or in person.
To register, complete the online self-referral form or speak to your primary care provider who can submit a referral on your behalf. Once you have signed up, you will be contacted to get started with a service that best meets your needs.
If you are between the ages of 15-17, click here to sign up for the BounceBack Ontario program.
Referrals may be accepted from the following sources:
- Individuals who have a serious mental illness/severe mental health problems
- Family members
- Health professionals
- Social service agencies
- Diversion programs
- Religious institutions and community organizations
A referral form may be completed by:
- Referring person
- Prospective client
Alternatively, please call Access Point at 1-(888) 640-1934.
Please see the Intake and Referral list below to see how you can apply for our programs and services:
Adult Case Management Services
Please fill out this Access Point Form and indicate Across Boundaries as the
preferred service provider.
Case Management – Transition From Homelessness: At Home / Housing First
Please fill out this Access Point Form and indicate Across Boundaries as the
preferred service provider.
Mental Health & Justice Initiative
Please complete the application form here.
External Resources
When a serious sickness, traumatic experience or an emotional crisis occurs, we may require external support. The following contains a list of information and resources that you can turn to in the event of a crisis.
Emergency Assistance
If you or someone you know is in crisis and requires emergency assistance – Visit your local emergency department, or call 911.
Children’s Help Line
1-800-668-6868 is a free, anonymous, and confidential phone and online professional counselling service for children and adolescents. They are available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Distress Centre
416-408-HELP (4357) provides access to emotional support from the comfort and convenience of your own home. They can assist with domestic abuse, social isolation, suicide, addictions, and mental and physical health challenges.
LGBT Youth Line
Call 1-800-268-9688 or text 647-694-4275. Get confidential and non-judgemental peer support. Get in touch with a peer support volunteer from Sunday to Friday, 4:00PM to 9:30 PM.
Warm Line, Progress Place
1-888-768-2488 Are you feeling lonely, isolated, anxious, depressed or in need of a friendly ear? Chat online, text or call a peer support worker, 3pm to 7pm Ontario (EST), 7 days a week.
Assaulted Women’s Helpline
416-863-0511; Toll Free 1-866-863-0511. This helpline provides a free, anonymous, and confidential 24-hour telephone and TTY crisis telephone line to all women in Ontario who have endured any type of abuse.
Toronto Seniors Helpline
416-217-2077. This service provides assistance in stabilizing age-related mental health and addiction crises, risk and safety assessments, immediate referrals to community mobile crisis units, and support for families and caregivers.
Anishnawbe Mental Health Crisis Management Service
416-891-8606 This service for Indigenous people not only promotes Traditional Aboriginal practices but has affirmed and placed them at its core.
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre
416-597-8808. This grassroots collective provides anti-oppressive, feminist peer support to survivors of sexual violence through support, education and activism. This service is available for anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused, those who have experienced unwanted sexual touching, including incest survivors.
York Support Services Network
905-898-6455 If you, or someone you care about, are depressed, distressed, lonely, anxious, scared or angry, you can call York Support Services 24/7, serving York Region and North York regions.
Scarborough Hospital Mobile Crisis Program
416-495-2891 Provides Telephone Crisis Response and community crisis response to individuals over 16 years of age who are experiencing a mental health crisis in Scarborough and East York.
Gerstein Crisis Centre
416-929-5200 Services include 24/7 telephone support, in-person mobile crisis team, community support referrals, substance use crisis management, follow-up and access to short-term crisis beds.