With mental health and addiction challenges continuing to rise across Ontario, William Osler Health System is being recognized for offering one of the region’s most accessible and low-barrier support programs.
For many individuals, the biggest challenge is getting help quickly—not in weeks or months, but the moment they’re ready. Osler’s Brampton and Toronto addictions services program is designed exactly for that.
A Program With No Wait List — Immediate Counselling Available
According to Megen Galbraith, Clinical Team Lead for Addictions Services, most of Osler’s mental health and addiction supports have zero wait times and allow self-referral, meaning anyone can call directly without a doctor’s note.
Services include:
- One-on-one addiction counselling
- Group therapy and workshops
- Psychiatry and youth addiction medicine
- Harm-reduction and abstinence-based supports
- Withdrawal Management Centre for people in crisis
- Specialized 28-day stabilization program for people experiencing homelessness
- Support for alcohol, drugs, gambling, gaming, and other addictive behaviours
This model allows people to start receiving help immediately—a crucial factor when someone is in crisis or readiness for change.
Helping Families, Not Just Individuals
The program also offers strong support for family members affected by addiction.
Rebecca, a Brampton resident with bipolar disorder and years of experience supporting loved ones with alcoholism, said Osler’s family counselling program “helped more than anything else I’ve tried in 30 years.”
She highlighted boundary setting, stress management, and meditation as transformative tools she learned through workshops.
Demand Rising Across Ontario
Ontario continues to face a mental health crisis:
- 1 in 5 Canadians experience mental illness each year.
- Substance-use disorders remain one of the leading causes of disability.
- Accidental drug and alcohol toxicity deaths rose from 1,660 in 2018 to 2,796 in 2022.
- During COVID-19, 74% of Ontarians reported worsening mental health or addictions.
Osler psychiatrist Dr. Ahmed Mansour says the program has expanded rapidly to meet this growing need. Unlike many hospitals where psychiatric waits can stretch six to eight months, Osler aims for nearly immediate access.
A Flexible, Non-Judgmental Approach
What makes the program successful is its flexibility. People can choose:
- Harm reduction
- Gradual change
- Or complete abstinence
And they can switch between these approaches as needed.
“You’re not forced into a box,” Rebecca said. “The variety makes you feel safe.”
A Lifeline for Brampton & Etobicoke
With dedicated nurse practitioners, embedded emergency-department addiction counsellors, and a broad range of treatment options, Osler is one of the few systems able to maintain short—or zero—wait times.
For many patients, that can be the difference between seeking help or falling deeper into crisis.