Ontario therapists offer free support to frontline health care workers impacted by COVID-19

A group of Ontario mental health professionals have come together to support frontline health care workers impacted by COVID-19 with free remote therapy. According to a website set up for the initiative, “this population lacks adequate emotional and mental support, and can feel isolated and stigmatized for their contact with those who have been infected.”

The initiative’s founder Karen Dougherty told CBC that she was inspired to create the network after hearing of a similar project in New York. She hopes mental health professionals in other provinces across Canada will follow suit. "We need these folks to be resilient and to have the strength to perform under stress," Doughtery said in the interview. "These are the people who are going to keep us alive. We need to give them the support that they need."

Ontario therapists who are willing to offer free remote sessions, as well as frontline health care workers in need of mental health support are invited to request or volunteer support here. To date, over 800 licensed therapists from across the province have signed up to volunteer their time to the cause.

Sources: Ontario COVID-19 Mental Health Network, CBC