Who to Call Poster

Developed in collaboration with the Ottawa Police Service, and members of the business community, the Who to Call Poster is a quick reference to help guide employees and business owners on who to call and where to go for more support with Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health challenges you might come across. 

Print this poster, and keep it in a helpful place for employees.

Find Your Way Community Resource Guide

The Find Your Way Community Resource Guide includes contact information for organizations providing community supports to address Mental health, Addictions and Substance Use Health challenges, such as drug treatment centres, crisis lines, shelters, locations to pick up safer injection and inhalation supplies, and other social services

Naloxone kits

An overdose is a life-threatening medical emergency. Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, but it does not cure an overdose. If anyone suspects or witnesses a person experiencing a drug overdose, call 9-1-1 and administer naloxone, even if the drug consumed is unknown.

Being able to recognize the signs of an overdose quickly and having a naloxone kit can save a life. Naloxone kits are available for free through various programs. Kits are available to persons who could be at risk of an overdose, and to people who could help someone who is overdosing including businesses of all kinds.

Get a free kit and training on overdose prevention, recognizing an overdose and how to respond at a participating pharmacy near you by:

• Calling the Drug and Alcohol Helpline @ 1-800-565-8603.  
• Checking this list of pharmacies that have naloxone. This list is managed by the Ministry of Health. Should a pharmacy be missing from the list, please contact the Ministry. 

Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health Resource List

Everyone experiences stress and or challenges in their own way. It is completely natural to feel stress and concern during challenging  times. A person might have trouble sleeping, eating or paying attention. If these feelings are affecting day-to-day life, please ask for help. Getting help is a sign of strength. 

Get help now by telephone, text and chat mental health crisis services. Download our Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health Resource List.

Free online training

OPH has developed self-guided online training tools to help build the knowledge needed to handle some of the challenges of assisting someone who may be experiencing a substance use or mental health issue.

• Stigma: How You Can Impact Change Learn about stigma and how we can all work together to support our community through the language we choose. This training takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
• Overdose Prevention and Response Training Learn about types of drugs, drug intoxication and overdose prevention, naloxone, the 5 steps to respond to an opioid overdose, and available supports. Take it at your own pace. This training takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
• Online Party Safer training Learn about how and where to access Naloxone, reduce health risks using party safer tips, how to identify and respond to an overdose and find information on local supports. Take it at your own pace and get a certificate of completion. This training takes approximately 25 minutes to complete.

Safe handling and disposal of needles

Keeping Ottawa neighbourhoods safe is our collective responsibility. In an effort to promote community safety, OPH works along with numerous City and community partners, on a variety of measures to provide safer options for disposing of discarded needles and drug paraphernalia : 

1. City of Ottawa Staff: With the coordinated support of several City departments, City staff respond to requests for needle retrieval anywhere in the city with a priority response. 
2. Needle drop boxes With over 80 24/7 publicly accessible locations across the city, needle drop boxes make disposing of needles easy and safe.
3. Harm Reduction Services and Partner Agencies: Approximately 30 agencies across the city are available to collect needles and other drug paraphernalia. 
4. Household Hazardous Waste Depots: These depots host multiple events throughout the year to collect all kinds of waste that cannot be collected in the regular waste stream, including medical sharps, and drug paraphernalia. 
5. Sharps kits are available to equip those individuals with the appropriate tools and training to reinforce personal safety while retrieving needles and drug paraphernalia.

This fact sheet can be shared with your team to raise awareness on how to dispose of needles and drug paraphernalia.

For more information, visit: OttawaPublicHealth.ca/Needles

Supports to haveTHATtalk About Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health

The haveTHATtalk series was developed to raise awareness about the importance of mental health in all areas of our lives. Everyone can take action to promote mental health where we live, work and play. Check out these videos, activity guides, and supports to learn how you can take action to reduce stigma, increase support, and encourage people to get help sooner.

Many people consume substances. Most Canadians will consume some kind of substance in their lifetime. Just like Physical or Mental Health, our Substance Use Health can vary from one day to the next as we are faced with different circumstances. Visit our web page to learn tips on how to talk specifically about substance use health and available resources.

As an employer or colleague, you may need to have discussions with someone about their substance use. This resource can help guide you through that process.

How OPH is working to improve mental health and substance use health and well-being in our community

OPH is one of many organizations with roles in addressing mental health and substance use. OPH’s foundational task is monitoring and evaluating health status and impacts to help inform policy makers and community and health partners in their work. OPH also helps to convene partners and promote coordination. As well, OPH works to provide partners and the public with timely access to information, communications and alerts about emerging trends and issues.

A key part of OPH’s work is prevention of harm by supporting and fostering resilient communities that support children and youth. OPH’s training to reduce stigma and harm reduction strategies that engage people who use drugs, are activities that can result in more people linked to care and treatment. Lastly, OPH coordinates the Ontario Naloxone Program locally, and protects the community through programs such as needle retrieval and disposal.