# Free therapy in Canada? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2003, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-therapy-in-canada/199900 "2003-09-06T06:54:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-therapy-in-canada/199900/1 "2003-09-06T06:54:25Z")
I am a Canadian citizen with a Medicare card that is valid in Quebec. Where can I go in Montreal for free or cheap psychotherapy? I really really need it. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-therapy-in-canada/199900/2 "2003-09-06T14:29:52Z")
I would suggest calling the Canadian Mental Health Association. If they don’t offer what you need, I’d think they could tell you where you could find it. Click [here](http://www.cmha.ca/english/info_centre/locations/qc.htm) for locations in Quebec. ---
**Author:** ![ladydisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@ladydisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladydisco)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-therapy-in-canada/199900/3 "2003-09-06T14:35:32Z")
I don’t have an answer to your question, but I hope things get better for you and you get the help that you need. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-therapy-in-canada/199900/4 "2003-09-06T16:01:09Z")
Psychiatrists, being MDs, are covered by provincial health care. **kung fu lola** , please email me. There’s a new program up at the General for psychotherapy for gays and lesbians. I can give you the number, you can call, and they’ll set you up for an intake. [scottevil@ca.inter.net](mailto:scottevil@ca.inter.net) ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-therapy-in-canada/199900/5 "2003-09-06T16:02:21Z")
Forgot to mention, basically they’ll set you up with a gay or lesbian shrink. ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-therapy-in-canada/199900/6 "2003-09-06T16:12:16Z")
Alberta gal checking in here (I imagine things aren’t _that_ much different between provinces). > [@](#): > > Psychiatrists, being MDs, are covered by provincial health care. That has been my experience here. There is a long waiting list (here, at least), but try to get a GP to make a referral. Also, while I haven’t had great luck with the Canadian Mental Health Association (get in pretty much right away, but the counsellors were fairly useless in my situation), it might work out well for you. Also, a friend of mine who was having a complete nervous breakdown RIGHT NOW managed to become an outpatient at the Emergency Psych Ward at the University of Alberta Hospital. She was from out of province, but it was all covered. I didn’t even realize that the emergency ward had a psych area, but you learn something new everyday. It might be worth looking into. If you have any additional coverage through an employer or school, you may also be covered for sessions through a psychologist. Another friend of mine is currently working through her “ten yearly (covered) visits”. The upside is absolutely no significant wait, and the appointments can be scheduled to your needs. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-therapy-in-canada/199900/7 "2003-09-06T17:53:07Z")
ERs have psychiatrists on call. Trust me. You have to wait, but you _will_ be seen, given a script for meds if you need them ASAP, and a follow-up will be arranged. I’ve had to go that route at least twice, out of sheer frustration. **kung fu lola** , if you need to: go to the ER at the General, tell the triage nurse it’s a psychiatric emergency, and what’s going on, and that you need to see someone ASAP. You’ll have to wait about four hours, but you’ll see a psychiatrist (and usually a psych resident). I’ve been able to get a letter to get off work right there in the ER. Tell them you heard about the MUSIC program at the General for gays and lesbians, and have them refer you. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-therapy-in-canada/199900/8 "2003-09-06T17:54:16Z")
And if you get a script for meds but you get out of there late, the Pharmaprix on Guy & Ste-Catherine is open until midnight, and the one on Côte-des-Neiges is open 24 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-therapy-in-canada/199900/9 "2003-09-06T18:10:46Z")
If you email me, I know a psychiatrist who is a prof in the McGill medical school. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-therapy-in-canada/199900/10 "2003-09-06T19:17:15Z")
**Hari** : does he/she practise at the Allan?