The Ontario COVID-19 Mental Health Network has ceased active operations as of July 1, 2020.
To all volunteers we’d like to say a big thank you for stepping up. Your generosity helped people.
For those interested in how our initiative worked, read on for information on Volunteer Requirements and Support Methodology and Support Seeker Eligibility.
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPORT METHODOLOGY
- You must be a current licensed member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, the College of Psychologists of Ontario, or the College of Physicians and Surgeons, or must be accredited by the Ontario College of Nurses or the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
- You must carry professional liability insurance.
- You must be prepared to deliver all services as teletherapy.
- You must agree to respond to emails from support seekers within 24 hours.
- You must agree to accept email updates from us.
- And finally, you must agree to allow us to confirm your credentials and identity through public records and direct communication.
HOW OUR SUPPORT REQUEST SYSTEM WORKS
When a healthcare worker impacted by COVID-19 requests support, we respond by sending them an email with the names and email addresses of up to three therapists.
When a support seeker sends an email to you (the therapist) you will know it is via our initiative because we ask support seekers to put “Ontario COVID-19 Mental Health Network” in the subject line.
If you are contacted by email by a support seeker, we recommend that you have an initial discussion to confirm that they are a healthcare worker who has been impacted by COVID-19.
From that point on, the therapeutic relationship, including how many pro bono sessions you provide, is completely up to you. All we suggest is that you set expectations clearly and as soon as you reasonably can.
If for any reason, you feel that you and the support seeker are not a good fit, we encourage you to send them back to us for more/different referrals.
SUPPORT SEEKER ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for pro bono mental health services through this initiative you must be a healthcare worker who has been impacted by COVID-19 in your workplace.
If this clearly applies to you… you’re eligible. If you’re unsure, please refer to the information below.
1. You must be a healthcare worker, namely… an Ambulance Attendant, Community Health Worker, Direct Support Professional, Medical Laboratory Technician, Nurse Aide, Orderly, Personal Support Worker, Pharmacist, Physician, Psychologist, Public Health Nurse, Registered Nurse, Service Associate, Shelter Worker, or Social Worker.
2. You must have been impacted by COVID-19 in your workplace. Your workplace could be a hospital, the street, a private home if you conduct home visits, a nursing home, a long-term care facility, a group living facility for the developmentally challenged, a homeless shelter, or any other workplace where care is given or could be described as a care facility.
When would a healthcare worker not be eligible?
A healthcare worker would not be eligible if 1. they are seeking support for a mental health issue unrelated to COVID-19, 2. they have solely been impacted by COVID-19 outside their workplace.
IMAGES FOR SOCIAL MEDIA
BADGES FOR VOLUNTEERS
If you are a participating mental healthcare provider, we invite you to put this badge on your website and link it to https://covid19therapists.com.
You can right click to download the badge or copy the code in the box below (no download required).
We also invite you to display the badge on your social media. In that case you may want a larger badge so please right click on the image below to download it.
