Skylark - born from the merging of Delisle Youth Services (1973-2016) and Oolagen Youth Mental Health (1967-2016) - is a leading Toronto-based charity dedicated to children, young people and their families struggling with complex mental health and developmental needs.
Our depth of expertise can provide the help that is needed when it's needed. We believe that all young people, regardless of their developmental, social and/or psychological needs, are resilient and possess their own unique strengths. After more than 90 years of experience, we know that our comprehensive range of high quality mental health promotion, intervention and treatment services help young people gain the confidence they need to become productive, contributing members in their communities.
Services Offered
Counselling Services At Skylark we offer free, individual and family counselling and support to children, youth and their families who live in Toronto. Our services are tailored to the individual strengths and needs of each client.
Here are some of the issues that our counsellors can help with: * Mental health issues (for example: depression, anxiety, self-harming tendencies, suicidal thoughts) * Family conflict * School-related stress * Social isolation and peer-related stress * Bullying * Emotion regulation * Trauma (for example: physical, emotional, or sexual abuse) * Relationship conflicts
Day Treatment Programs Skylark's Section 23 Day Treatment Programs - Merge and Visions - are designed for high school students who are experiencing significant challenges at school. These young people are often struggling with academics, attendance, mental health, family, or other persistent issues and would benefit from the multidisciplinary intensive therapeutic support and intervention the program provides.
Drug Education * SESSIONS - Many young people struggling with mental health challenges are self-medicating with street or prescription drugs, alcohol and other substances. Chances are if you encounter mental health issues, there's a strong likelihood you'll also encounter substance use.
Facilitators use music, art, literature, media and games to create a safe, drug-neutral space to engage youth as they develop health literacy skills. The goal is to support youth to make informed choices about their own health and wellness.
* Tuning In: Parent Edition - Learn new and better ways to communicate with your teens about drugs. We provide lots of practice and supportive feedback from expert facilitators and a chance for families to share experiences and learn from each other.
Fees and Payment
Services are free.
This is a registered charity.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
