The CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic offers convenient, confidential, same-day virtual mental health advice wherever you are in the City of Toronto, using a computer, smartphone or tablet. After you fill out some quick registration questions, you can connect with a mental health provider at a time that works best for you.
If you do not have access to a computer, smartphone or tablet but still require support, click here.
Hours of operation
Monday to Friday*:
1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET *Excluding Statutory Holidays
If your feel like your safety is at risk, please call 911 right away or go to your nearest emergency department. The CAMH Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is located at 1051 Queen Street West, Toronto.
The CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic is not permitted to provide prescriptions or renewals for opioids, benzodiazepines, methadone, suboxone, cannabis or stimulant prescriptions. If you are looking for prescriptions or renewals of any of the above, please reach out to your family doctor, a walk-in clinic or consider visiting an emergency department or urgent care clinic in person.
Is the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic right for you?
Please take a moment to read the following questions:
Are you concerned about your mental health?
Are you able to wait until later today to speak with a mental health provider?
Are you 16 years of age or older?
Do you live within the City of Toronto?
Are you able to speak in a private space using a computer, smartphone or tablet?
If you responded yes to all of the above, then the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic may be a good option for you. Click here if you answered no to any of the questions above and are still looking for support.
What do I need for my virtual urgent care visit?
A computer, smartphone or tablet with video and microphone
A reliable internet connection – click here to test your speed and anything above 10 mbps would be considered a strong enough connection
A valid email address or smartphone number (to access the appointment link and reminders)
Where possible, we ask that you find a quiet, private space to have your virtual visit
Your Ontario Health Insurance (OHIP) card, if you have one (note: If you do not have an OHIP card or other health insurance provider, you can still make an appointment and alternative billing arrangements will be made))
click here if you do not have access to one or all of the above and are still looking for support.
What can I expect at my virtual urgent care visit?
A CAMH mental health provider will talk to you about your concerns. Depending on your needs, they may suggest the following next steps:
Sending a prescription to your pharmacy
Making an appointment with a specialist doctor or clinic
Asking you to see a family doctor or visit a walk-in doctor or another urgent care centre
Asking you to go to your nearest Emergency Department for an in-person visit
Nothing further, if your concern can be addressed through the virtual visit
How to use the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care:
Click on the “Click here to book an appointment” button below or at the top of your screen. Please note that the person with the mental health concern must be present at the appointment.
You will be asked to complete a quick registration process and include your reason for scheduling the appointment. Please have your OHIP card available. For more information about privacy and sharing your health information, click here.
Request an appointment time that works with your schedule. Please note that appointments are approximately 30 minutes long.
Prior to your session, you may be contacted by a CAMH mental health provider by email or from an unknown number to clarify details and learn more about your situation.
You may receive links to some pre-consultation questionnaires, which will assist the CAMH mental health provider in supporting you.
You will receive an email and/or a text message with your appointment details including the videoconferencing link. The virtual appointment will take place using WebEx, a free and secure videoconferencing service. For more information about WebEx, click here.
Open the email or text message from the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care and click on the video link at your appointment time.
The videoconference will begin and you will be connected to a CAMH mental health provider.
After your appointment, you will receive an email inviting you to complete a survey and provide feedback on your experience with this service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before your appointment:
What if I am not eligible for this service but I still need support?
If your feel like your safety is at risk please visit your closest emergency department, urgent care centre or mental health provider. To access 24/7 information about mental health, addiction and problem gambling services throughout Ontario, call the provincial government’s ConnexOntario service at 1 866 531-2600 or go online to www.connexontario.ca.
What geographic region does the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic serve?
This service is currently available to people
who live in the City of Toronto. If you live outside the area, please
visit your local emergency department, urgent care centre or mental health
provider.
What are the age requirements to use the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic?
An individual must be at least 16 years or older to access the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic.
Is this service for immediate mental health emergencies?
This service is not meant to address immediate emergencies. If your concern is immediate and you cannot wait for your appointment please call 911 right away or go to your nearest emergency department.
Do I need to pay for this service?
There is no fee for users of the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic with an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card. If you do not have an OHIP card or other health insurance provider, you can still make an appointment and alternative billing arrangements will be made
Is this service offered in other languages besides English?
Yes, please identify what language interpretation is required when booking your appointment.
What kind of clinician will I see using this service?
When using the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic, you will be connected with a Nurse Practitioner.
If I need in-person attention, will it help me see a clinician faster if I start the process by using the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic?
No. The CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic is not available to patients requiring in-person and/or immediate attention. If you need in-person and/or immediate attention, you can access the CAMH Emergency Department which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is located at 1051 Queen Street West, Toronto. Alternatively, you can visit your local emergency department, urgent care centre or call 911.
Appointments:
What happens if I miss my appointment?
If you miss your appointment and still wish to use the service you will need to book a new appointment.
What happens after the appointment?
After the appointment, you may receive an email with a link to a patient satisfaction survey.
Technology:
Do I need a computer, smartphone or tablet to access this service?
Yes. You will need a computer, smartphone or tablet with video and microphone capabilities and a reliable internet connection to access the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic. Click here to test your speed and anything above 10 mbps would be considered a strong enough connection.
What is “WebEx Videoconferencing”?
Webex Videoconferencing is a secure web-conferencing tool that is used for virtual video or audio meetings over the Internet.
Where do I find my appointment?
Once you have completed the registration process, you will receive an email or text message with your appointment information.
What if I get disconnected during my virtual visit?
Please try reconnecting using the link in the original email
Privacy/Confidentiality:
Is this service confidential?
Yes. While all video appointments take place over a secure encrypted network, there are still potential risks, including: interruptions, unauthorized access, and technical difficulties. CAMH has security safeguards to protect your health information from theft, loss, and unauthorized access or disclosure, and we train our staff on privacy and their obligation to protect your personal health information.
What can I do to protect my privacy during the virtual appointment?
Your privacy is important to us, and there are some unique privacy considerations when participating in virtual care. To safeguard your privacy, you will be asked to:
Participate in the session from a private and fixed location. If this is not possible, and you still wish to proceed, we recommend that you wear headphones and ensure that your screen is not viewable by others.
Not share the videoconference link with others. If you would like to invite someone to join the appointment, please discuss this in more detail with the CAMH personnel you are working with.
Confirm your identity by showing government-issued photo identification and have your government-issued ID ready for your appointment.
Not record, take photos and/or screenshots of the appointment.
What does CAMH do with my health information collected during the virtual appointment?
Once you agree to the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care clinic, you will be registered as a CAMH patient and the visit will be documented in the CAMH health record. Your health information will be kept private and secure. For more information about collection, use and disclosure of your personal health information and your privacy rights click here.
Will my primary doctor or nurse practitioner find out that I used the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic?
Your primary care physician is part of your circle of care and may be aware of your Virtual Urgent Care clinic. They may also be able to view notes related to your visit through the Provincial Shared Electronic Health Information Systems. Click here to learn more about shared electronic health information systems and your personal health information.
Can my family member join the video conference with the CAMH clinician?
We care about your privacy and understand the importance of having support during potentially difficult discussions. If your loved ones has your consent to participate in the discussions taking place during your appointment, they can potentially join the conference. Please discuss this in more detail with the CAMH personnel you are working with.
If you have any feedback about this webpage or the the CAMH Virtual Urgent Care Clinic, please contact Client Relations