Home / For Families / Mental Health Support Programs
One-on-One Support: “Staff are available Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (EST) to listen and offer support. We provide a warm, listening ear for anyone who is worried, scared, sad, overwhelmed or needs someone to talk to because of the impact of a brain tumour (on yourself or loved one). Support calls are confidential, caring and non-judgmental.”
Support Groups: “You can share experiences, pass on knowledge and gain peer support in a confidential and relaxed atmosphere at a monthly adult Brain Tumour Support Group. New members are always welcome.” Support groups are located across Canada and meetings are either in-person, hybrid, or online.
Virtual Programs: Book club, virtual support, and entertainment.
Pediatric and Family Support: A handbook, storybook, support program, SUPERKIDS, toll free support line, private Facebook support group, and other tools “to help children and families understand what is happening to them, their parent, sibling, or loved one as they live with a brain tumour.”
Registration is done through the website and services are free.
Information Specialists can help navigate to programs and services: Call 1-888-939-3333 or search on their Community Services Locator (search for “childhood cancer”).
Cancer Care Counselling: "HopeSpring offers Cancer Care Counselling, provided by professional, registered therapists to those affected by cancer. We recognize the impact of the cancer diagnosis which often is debilitating for the patient and their family. HopeSpring gives the patient and their family the tools to navigate through the system with the support of the Cancer Care Counsellor. We offer one-on-one counselling, couples counselling, family counselling, child(ren) with parent(s) and caregivers counselling through the phone or using Zoom video conferencing software."
Adjusting to a New Normal: Access one-on-one personalized support through the Community Services Leads at LLSC.
First Connection Caregiver Support Program: “When you sign up for First Connection, you will be matched with a trained volunteer (peer) who has firsthand experience caring for someone with a blood cancer. Your match can be determined by age, type of diagnosis, gender (if requested) or the issue that is most concerning to you. Anyone caring for someone with a blood cancer can connect with a peer who’s been there.”
Registration is done through the website and services are free.
Thrive Support Program: Providing financial support to Canadian low-income individuals with a cancer diagnosis for services such as counselling and emotional support.
Online resources for youth and caregivers created by CAMH and SickKids. Website contains a listing of various support resources available to children and families.
Wellspring Programs: Programs for parents/caregivers, children, young adults, and bereaved families. Programs extend across the country and are provided in-person (Ontario and Alberta) or virtually (all of Canada). All programs are free of charge and they do not require a referral.
Support Circle: Parents of Children with Cancer: An online support group provide in collaboration with Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer (OPACC). Meetings are monthly.
Paeds and Parents Counselling: “Up to three private appointments are provided to parents or families in need, at which point other resources may be recommended. Wellspring also has a child life specialist on staff who can help navigate resources at Wellspring and in the broader community.” Locations: Toronto, Oakville, and virtual.
Registration is done through the website and services are free.
One-on-one Peer Support: Meetings can be in person, by text, telephone, or video call.
Group Caregiver Support Sessions: Virtual meetings covering a wide range of topics related to pediatric oncology.
Registration is done through the website and services are free.
Caregivers Connect: “Offers caregivers a chance to relax and meet others with a similar shared experience. Co-hosted by KWCS parents.”
Monthly Support Group Meetings: "Parents have access to monthly parent support group meetings (held on the first Monday of every month, from September to June) where they can share personal experiences, learn about resources, socialize, and have the opportunity to gather information from guest speakers."
Emotional Support Programs: Available programs include recreational therapy, emotional support, and other programming.
Registration is done through the website and services are free.
Pediatric Parents: A virtual support group for parent caregivers of children with cancer to connect, share, and receive support—developed in partnership with Childhood Cancer Canada.
Registration is done through the website and services are free.
Adult Programs: Offer individual counselling and peer support.
Support Group: Available to any family for a one-on-one discussion or group sessions.
Registration is done through the website and services are free.
OPACC in-Hospital Programs: Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids, Toronto), Credit Valley Hospital (Mississauga), Grand River Hospital (Kitchener), Kingston General Hospital, SHN, and weekly virtual peer support sessions.
OPACC Support Groups: Hamilton Facebook group, Kitchener-Waterloo monthly in-person meetings, Niagara Facebook group, and London monthly in-person meetings
Registration is done through the website and services are free.
POGO Interlink Nursing Program: “POGO Interlink Nursing Program provides supportive care to children with cancer and their families, from hospital settings to homes, communities, and schools. As important members of the primary care team, POGO Interlink Nurses deliver patient and family-centered care throughout the cancer journey.”
Offering affordable, individual or family counselling in multiple languages.
Assistance and Emotional Support: “Leucan’s team of experts guides and supports families at the pediatric oncology centres across the province, from Leucan’s regional offices, and even at home by providing them with tailored proximity services.”
Support Services: "One of the ways in which we provide ongoing support is by making visits to the Medical Day Care unit. We provide coffee, tea, and snacks and invite parents to join us for conversation. This is one way we can provide emotional support for families by listening to them, celebrating good news, and being with them during times of stress. Regular parent meetings are also at held at the Janeway during one evening in the month—all parents and guardians are welcome to attend."
Psychosocial support from certified child life specialists for children ages 0-18.
Information Specialists can help navigate to programs and services: Call 1-888-939-3333 or search on their Community Services Locator (search for “childhood cancer”).
20s & 30s: “A virtual support group for people in their 20s & 30s living with or surviving a cancer diagnosis. For individuals recently diagnosed to 5 years out of treatment.”
Registration is done through the website and services are free.
Pediatric Cancer Family Support: Programs such as music therapy, fun days, art therapy, the “Monkey in my Chair” program, sibling support, and individual support are all available.
Children’s Programs: Various children’s programming is available.
Teen Cancer Connection: Resource list available (PDF).
Teens4Teens: A “drop-in group for teens to connect with each other and talk about common issues teens face when dealing with cancer. Teens4Teens drop-ins have been run both virtually (using Zoom Healthcare) and in person (in the Teen Room in the Sears Cancer Clinic). Teens aged 13+, with any cancer diagnosis, at any stage, on or off treatment, inpatient or outpatient are eligible to participate. Ask your medical team or email teens.4teens@sickkids.ca.
After Cancer Treatment (ACT) Initiative: “The ACT Initiative focuses on supporting patients and parents/caregivers adjusting to life after the completion of active cancer treatment. Please speak with your medical team if you are interested in this program.
• Services can be found through the Leucan Advisor.
• À Félix Program for young adults (15-39) dealing with cancer.
• Peer Phone Matching: Connects youth with volunteers who have experienced similar situations (same age/cancer type)
City Camp: “WCK City Camp in Surrey is for kids aged 5-12 who have had a cancer or blood disorder diagnosis, and their siblings too. As it's a day camp with a medical team on-site, children both on treatment and off can safely join in with all the magic of camp while sleeping comfortably in their own bed at night.”
The Club: “This program is open to female-identifying and non-binary youth (including genderqueer, gender-diverse, and self-identified young women) in B.C. affected by childhood cancer or blood disorders, either through their own diagnosis or a sibling's diagnosis.”
Registration is done through the website and services are free.
Many different programs for kids and teens such as “Girls with Brain Tumours”, “NextGen”, “Little Heroes Club” and more. There is also “Camp Beat It” and various summer day camps.
Registration is done through the website and services are free.
Programs include counselling, support groups, and connection to services. For more information, please email: ayaprogram@cancercare.mb.ca (Navigator Newsletter Article, PDF)
Many grief and bereavement services are available through your local hospice. You can search for services through the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association.
Finding Support: Search on their website for services across Canada.
Bereavement Support Groups: Various groups are available to meet in-person and virtually. (Search for “bereavement” using their portal.)
Child Loss Support Group: “This group is loss specific, meaning, all group members have experienced the loss of a child. The Child Loss Grief Support Group provides individuals with an opportunity to share their loss and grief with others who have also experienced the loss of a child. Our Closed Grief Support Groups are facilitated by the same facilitators for 6 or 8 weeks, depending on the group and time of year. We ask for those interested to commit fully to each week for strong group cohesion and establishing meaningful connections.”
Support for Children and Teens: “We offer up to 12 individual peer support sessions for children and youth ages 6-17. Sessions can last up to 30 minutes via Zoom or telephone for those 6-12 (Zoom is preferred) or via telephone for those 13-17.”
Individual Peer Support Sessions: “We are pleased to offer free, one-to-one peer support sessions for individuals grieving the death of someone in their life. These sessions are not counselling, therapy, or crisis support but rather peer support, which is based on shared experiences and compassionate listening.”
Bereavement Counselling: Group, couple or individual bereavement counselling for parents and group or individual counselling for siblings.
Adult Bereavement: “A virtual support group for individuals who have had a person in their life die from cancer.”
Teen Talk: Grief & Cancer: “A virtual support group for teens ages 13-17 whose friends and family members have died from cancer. The group helps youth find their own unique voice and develop positive peer relationships and coping strategies.”
End of Life and Bereavement Programs: Grief counseling and support groups.
Support Groups: “The Lighthouse peer support groups are offered for children, youth and young adults ages 3-24 years, at no cost to families. Grief-related themes are explored through talk circles, games, expressive arts activities, and play, led by professional staff and trained volunteers.”
Support Programs: “COPING was founded in 1990 by Glenn and Roslyn Crichton eight years after the loss of their five year old daughter, Rachele. The COPING Centre believes in “companioning” and walking beside someone in their grief. Various support programs are offered for kids, teens, young adults, and adults.
Adventure Camp: “COPING Adventure Camp provides kids with an unforgettable experience and time to learn about their grief.”
"The death of a child, whether due to illness, accident, or unforeseen circumstances, is a life-altering loss. This Thing Called Grief works with parents to navigate this overwhelming grief, helping them process the pain, guilt, and profound sense of emptiness that can accompany such a loss."
Palliative Care and Bereavement Support: Supports include weekend retreats, sharing group for parents, a weekend for Fathers, sibling groups and more. Information can be found through the Leucan Advisor.
Compassionate Hearts: “Gathers bereaved caregivers to share their grief and find support. Programming available for siblings. Hosted by bereaved parents.”