Resources
Mental Health & 12-Step Recovery Resources
Finding the right kind of support can sometimes feel overwhelming. There are crisis services, mental-health professionals, peer-support groups, 12-step programs, addiction services, family-support organizations and countless websites offering information.
This page is intended to make that search a little easier.
Whether you're looking for immediate help, ongoing mental-health support, a 12-step meeting, information about a particular issue, or support for a family member, I hope you'll find something here that points you in the right direction.
Please remember: Peer-support and 12-step programs can be valuable sources of support, but they are not a replacement for professional medical or mental-health care when that care is needed.
Canada
Crisis & Immediate Support
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
Call or text 9-8-8 for 24/7 crisis support anywhere in Canada.
You do not have to be certain that you're suicidal to reach out. The service is available to people experiencing emotional distress or a mental-health crisis.
911
For an immediate emergency or when someone's safety is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Finding Mental-Health & Community Services
Government of Canada — Mental Health Support
A good starting point for finding Canadian mental-health, addiction and crisis resources.
Canadian Mental Health Association
CMHA has branches across Canada and offers information, programs, peer support and help finding local services.
211 Canada
If you don't know what service you need or where to find it, 211 can help connect you with community, health and social services in your area.
Nova Scotia
If you live in Nova Scotia, these resources are especially useful.
Nova Scotia Mental Health & Wellbeing
Government of Nova Scotia — Mental Health & Wellbeing
A central source for mental-health, addiction, crisis and community resources throughout Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia Mental Health & Addictions
Nova Scotia Health — Mental Health & Addictions
Find provincial mental-health and addictions programs and services.
Mental Health & Addictions Intake
1-855-922-1122
This is the provincial intake service for people seeking mental-health or addiction services. You can self-refer and a clinician will help determine what services may be appropriate.
Provincial Mental Health & Addictions Crisis Line
1-888-429-8167 — 24/7
This service provides crisis support for mental-health and addiction concerns.
Access Wellness
1-833-691-2282
Access Wellness provides a single session of counselling for concerns such as anxiety, grief, relationship difficulties, job loss and substance use. Sessions may be available online, by phone or in person.
211 Nova Scotia
211
A free community-resource navigation service.
811 Nova Scotia
811
For non-emergency health advice and information.
United States
Crisis & Immediate Support
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for 24/7 crisis support in the United States.
911
For an immediate emergency or when someone's safety is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Mental Health & Addiction Services
SAMHSA
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
A major U.S. government resource for mental-health and substance-use information, treatment and recovery services.
SAMHSA National Helpline
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Free, confidential information and treatment-referral service for mental-health and substance-use concerns.
NAMI
National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI provides education, support groups, advocacy and help finding mental-health resources.
NAMI HelpLine
Information and support for people living with mental illness and their families.
12-Step Programs
There are far more 12-step fellowships than Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Many focus on issues that aren't traditionally thought of as "addiction."
Two directories are particularly useful:
12Steppers.org
12-Step Program List
A broad directory of 12-step programs organized by category.
12Step.org
12-Step Fellowship Directory
A particularly useful resource for finding less-common 12-step fellowships.
Alcohol & Substance Use
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) — aa.org
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) — na.org
Cocaine Anonymous (CA) — ca.org
Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) — crystalmeth.org
Heroin Anonymous (HA) — heroinanonymous.org
Marijuana Anonymous (MA) — marijuana-anonymous.org
Nicotine Anonymous (NicA) — nicotine-anonymous.org
Pills Anonymous (PA) — pillsanonymous.org
Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA) — draonline.org
Family, Childhood & Relationships
Al-Anon
For family and friends affected by someone else's drinking.
Alateen
Available through Al-Anon for young people affected by someone else's drinking.
Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families
For adults affected by growing up in dysfunctional families.
Nar-Anon
For family and friends of people affected by drug addiction.
Families Anonymous
For relatives and friends concerned about someone else's substance use or behavioural problems.
Co-Dependents Anonymous
For people wanting to recover from unhealthy or codependent relationship patterns.
Recovering Couples Anonymous
For couples working through recovery together.
Mental & Emotional Health
This is one of the lesser-known areas of 12-step recovery.
Emotions Anonymous
emotionsanonymous.org
A 12-step fellowship for people experiencing emotional difficulties.
Depressed Anonymous
A 12-step fellowship focused on recovery from depression.
Emotional Health Anonymous
A fellowship focused on emotional health and recovery.
Neurotics Anonymous
A 12-step fellowship addressing emotional and psychological difficulties.
Dual Recovery Anonymous
draonline.org
For people dealing with both mental-health concerns and substance-use issues.
Food & Eating
Overeaters Anonymous
oa.org
For people seeking recovery from compulsive eating and food-related behaviours.
Food Addicts Anonymous
foodaddictsanonymous.org
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous
foodaddicts.org
Eating Disorders Anonymous
eatingdisordersanonymous.org
A peer-support fellowship for people recovering from eating disorders.
Money, Spending & Work
Debtors Anonymous
debtorsanonymous.org
For people struggling with compulsive debt and financial behaviours.
Underearners Anonymous
underearnersanonymous.org
For people who feel their earning patterns are chronically interfering with their lives.
Workaholics Anonymous
workaholics-anonymous.org
For people seeking recovery from compulsive work behaviours.
Spenders Anonymous
A 12-step fellowship addressing compulsive spending.
Gambling & Gaming
Gamblers Anonymous
gamblersanonymous.org
For people recovering from compulsive gambling.
Gam-Anon
gam-anon.org
For family and friends affected by someone else's gambling.
Gaming Addicts Anonymous
gamingaddictsanonymous.org
For people seeking recovery from problematic gaming.
Online Gamers Anonymous
olganon.org
Provides support for people affected by problematic online gaming, including family members.
Sex, Love & Relationship Recovery
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
slaafws.org
Sex Addicts Anonymous
saa-recovery.org
Sexaholics Anonymous
sa.org
Sexual Compulsives Anonymous
sca-recovery.org
Sexual Recovery Anonymous
sexualrecovery.org
COSA
cosa-recovery.org
For people affected by another person's compulsive sexual behaviour.
Other Behavioural & Life Issues
Clutterers Anonymous
clutterersanonymous.org
For people struggling with compulsive cluttering and disorganization.
Chronic Pain Anonymous
A 12-step approach for people dealing with chronic pain and its emotional impact.
Survivors of Incest Anonymous
sia-now.org
For adults recovering from the effects of childhood sexual abuse/incest.
Self-Harm Recovery Fellowships
There are also 12-step fellowships addressing self-harm and self-injury. These can be found through the broader directories at 12Step.org.
Looking for a Specific Problem?
If you don't see something that fits, don't assume there isn't a 12-step fellowship for it.
The 12Step.org Fellowship Directory is a good place to search for less-common programs.
You can also explore the 12Steppers.org program directory.
Online 12-Step Meetings
Many fellowships now offer meetings by:
-
Zoom
-
Telephone
-
Online chat
-
In-person meetings
The advantage of online meetings is that you aren't limited to what's available in your own community. You can sometimes attend a meeting anywhere in the world.
When looking for a meeting, check the individual fellowship's official website first.
Mental-Health Education
Canada
Government of Canada — Mental Health
Information about mental health, wellness and available services.
Canadian Mental Health Association
Education, resources, programs and support.
Peer Support vs. Professional Help
There is no single right path to recovery.
Some people find professional therapy most helpful. Others find peer support, 12-step meetings or community programs provide something they cannot get from therapy alone.
For many people, a combination of supports can be especially valuable.
A 12-step meeting can provide connection and people who understand what you're experiencing.
A therapist can provide professional assessment and treatment.
A physician or psychiatrist can address medical and medication-related needs.
Community organizations can provide practical assistance.
And sometimes the most important first step is simply finding someone who will listen.
If You Don't Know Where to Start
You don't have to figure everything out before asking for help.
If you're in Canada: Start with 988, 211, your provincial mental-health service or the Canadian Mental Health Association.
If you're in Nova Scotia: Start with the Nova Scotia Mental Health & Addictions Intake Service (1-855-922-1122), 211, or the Provincial Mental Health & Addictions Crisis Line (1-888-429-8167).
If you're in the United States: Start with 988, SAMHSA or NAMI.
And if you're looking specifically for a 12-step program, start with 12Steppers.org or 12Step.org.
You don't have to find the perfect resource on your first try.
Sometimes recovery begins with simply finding one place where you don't feel quite so alone.
A Note About This Resource
Resources and telephone numbers can change. I recommend checking the organization's website for the most current information before relying on a particular service.
This page is intended for informational purposes and is not a substitute for medical, psychiatric or other professional advice.