- Local Community Resources
- Lifestyle (Diet and Exercise)
- Periodic Health Exams
- Immunizations
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Mental Health
- Smoking
- Cancer
- Sleep
- Transgender Care
- Hospital Care
- COVID
- Antibiotic Stewardship
- Drug Safety and Interaction Tools
Directory of Community Services Hamilton
Women’s Shelters
Inasmuch House 905-529-8149
Interval House Hamilton 905-387-9959
Martha House 905-523-8895
Mary’s Place 905-540-8000
Native Women’s Centre 905-664-1114
Women’s Emergency Crisis Lines
Assaulted Women’s Helpline 1-866-863-0511
Fem’aide: Francophone Women’sSupport Line 1-877-336-2433
Inasmuch House 905-529-8600
Interval House Hamilton 905-387-8881
Martha House 905-523-6277
Mary’s Place 905-540-8000
Native Women’s Centre 1-888-308-6559
Other Shelters
Good Shepherd Family Centre 905-528-9442
Good Shepherd Youth Services -Notre Dame House 905-308-8090
24 Hour Helplines
Barrett Centre for Crisis Support 905-529-7878
COAST (Crisis Outreach and Support Team) 905-972-8338
Drug & Alcohol Treatment Information 1-800-565-8603
Kids Help Phone/Jeunesse J’écoute1-800-668-6868
Mental Health Helpline 1-866-531-2600
Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline 1-888-230-3505
Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton and Area) Support Line 905-525-4162
Suicide Prevention Crisis Line 905-522-1477
Victim Services -Hamilton Police 905-546-4904
Police Services
EMERGENCY 911
Non-Emergency 905-546-4925
Domestic Violence Unit 905-546-3852/ 905-546-3853
Medical Services
EMERGENCY 911
Hamilton Health Sciences 905-521-2100
Urgent Care Centre 905-521-2100 x72000
St. Joseph’s Hospital 905-522-4941
Community Health Centre 905-573-7777
Second Stage Housing for Women
Good Shepherd Women’s Services 905-523-8766
Phoenix Place 905-527-2238
Transitional Housing for Women
Native Women’s Centre -Honouring the Circle 905-664-1144
YWCA Hamilton 905-522-9922
Family Law Services
Family Law Information Centre(FLIC) 905-645-5252
Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre Legal Advocate 289-895-8580
Good Shepherd Women’s Services 905-523-8766
Legal Advocate x 4237
Family Court Support Worker X 4333
Hamilton Regional Indian Centre: 905-548-9593
Inasmuch House Legal Advocate 905-529-8149
Jared’s Place: Legal Advocacy and Resource Centre for Women 905-522-0127 x 207
Criminal Law & Victim Support Services
Crown Attorney’s Office 905-645-5262
Elizabeth Fry Society 905-527-3097
Hamilton Regional Indian Centre: 905-548-9593
John Howard Society 905-522-4446
Justice of the Peace 905-645-5252
Probation and Parole 905-521-7527
Victim Services -Hamilton Police 905-546-4904
Victim Support Line 1-888-579-2888
Victim/Witness Assistance Program 905-645-5272
Other Legal Services
Hamilton Community Legal Clinic 905-527-4572
Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-268-8326
Legal Aid Ontario 1-800-668-8258
Women’s Counselling & Support Services
Aboriginal Health Centre 905-544-4320
The AIDS Network 905-528-0854
Catholic Family Services 905-527-3823
Centre de santé communautaire 905-528-0163
Elizabeth Fry Society 905-527-3097
Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre 289 895 8580
Good Shepherd Women’s Services 905-523-8766
Hamilton Regional Indian Centre 905-548-9593
Hamilton Urban Core CHC 905-522-3233
Interval House of Hamilton 905-387-9959
Native Women’s Centre 905-664-1114
North Hamilton Community Health Centre 905-523-6611
Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre 905-521-2100 x 73557
Women’s Centre of Hamilton 905-522-0127
Sexual Assault Counselling & Support Services
Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton and Area (SACHA) 905-525-4573
Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre 905-521-2100 x 73557
THRIVE Child and Youth Trauma Services 905-523-1020
Centre de santé communautaire 905-528-0163
Children & Youth Counselling & Support Services
Aboriginal Health Centre 905-544-4320
Alternatives for Youth 905-527-4469
Contact Hamilton: Counselling Referrals 905-570-8888
Catholic Children’s Aid Society 905-525-2012
Catholic Family Services 905-527-3823
Centre de santé communautaire 905-528-0163
Children’s Aid Society 905-522-1121
Hamilton Regional Indian Centre 905-548-9593
Health Initiatives for Youth 905-528-3009
Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line 1-800-268-9688
Living Rock 905-528-7625
Lynwood Charlton Hall 905-527-4469
LEAF Program (Learning Effective Anti-Violence in Families)
Catholic Family Service 905-527-3823
Good Shepherd Women’s Services 905-523-8766
Inasmuch House 905-529-8149
Youth Housing Support Services
Angela’s Place 905-549-4276
Brennan House 905-577-1166
Grace Haven 905-522-7336
Notre Dame House 905-308-8090
St. Martin’s Manor 905-575-7500
Aboriginal Support Services
De dwa da dehs nye>s -Aboriginal Health Centre 905-544-4320
Hamilton Regional Indian Centre 905-548-9593
Metis Women’s Circle 905-628-5813
Native Women’s Centre 905-664-1114
Niwasa AboriginalEducation Programs 905-549-4884
Sacajawea Non-Profit Housing 905-544-3406
Six Nations on the Grand River Territory 519-445-2201
Urban Native Homes 905-548-6974
Immigration, Settlement & Newcomer Support Services
Centre de santé communautaire 905-528-0163
Circle of Friends 905-529-1840
Citizenship & Immigration Inquiries 1-888-242-2100
Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion 905-297-4694
Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre 905-522-3233
Immigrant Women’s Centre 905-529-5209
North Hamilton Community Health Centre 905-523-6611
YMCA Settlement Services 905-526-8452
YWCA Settlement Services 905-522-9922 x147
Men’s Counselling & Support Services
Aboriginal Health Centre 905-544-4320
The AIDS Network 905-528-0854
Catholic Family Services 905-527-3823
Centre de santé communautaire 905-528-0163
John Howard Society 905-522-4446
Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre 905-522-3233
North Hamilton Community Health Centre 905-523-6611
Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton and Area (SACHA) 905-525-4573
Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre 905-521-2100 x 73557
Public Health & Sexual Health Services
The AIDS Network 905-528-0854
Aboriginal Health Centre 905-544-4320
Anonymous HIV Testing 905-546-3541
Centre de santé communautaire 905-528-0163
City of Hamilton: Health Connections 905-546-2489
Health Initiatives for Youth (HIFY) 905-528-3009
Sexual Health Information Line 905-528-5894
Additional Community Support Services:
1) Access to Housing: 905-524-2228
2) Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Services: 905-546-3606
3) Canadian Hearing Society of Hamilton: 905-522-0755
4) Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: 905-525-1250
5) CNIB: 905-528-8555
6) Community Information Hamilton: 211 or 905-528-0104
7) Housing Help Centre: 905-526-8100
8) Men’s Withdrawal Management Centre: 905-527-9264
9) Mental Health Service Information:1-866-531-2600
10) Ontario Works/Income Support: 1-855-999-8729
11) The Well: LGBTQ Community Wellness Centre: 905-525-0300
12) Womankind Addiction Service: 905-545-9100
Heart and Stroke Staying Active
Exercise
- FITT Principle
- Aim for 5 days a week, 30 minutes at moderate intensity (breathing a little heavy but can still speak short sentences)
- Doesn't need to be fancy. Getting out for a walk is one of the best things you can do for your health.
Starting at the age of 40, we encourage you to begin making periodic health exams.
This does not necessarily mean a yearly physical. The frequency will be tailored to your health needs.
It is important to remember the advice below is for average risk screening. Based on your past health and family history, this could change and it is important to double check with your doctor.
Routine advice includes checking for diabetes every three years and cholesterol every five years.
Cancer screening includes colon (50-74yo), breast (50-74yo), and cervical (25-70yo). Prostate cancer screening is no longer routinely recommended, however, this is something to ask your doctor more about.
More information on each of these screening programs is available under the appropriate heading on the main resources page.
After age 50, we recommend considering a shingles vaccine.
At 65, we recommend the pneumonia vaccine.
Immunization if a safe and proven way to protect us from many preventable diseases. It reduces death and disability, medical costs, and hospital admissions. Side effects are very rare and minor, and are much less than the diseases they prevent. Vaccination is simply a process of giving us a small exposure to a disease without getting sick, so that our body can build up protection to the disease. It’s like exercise for our immune system, so it can be ready to fight the disease if we are really exposed to the illness.
You may hear or read about many different opinions regarding immunization. You may also have questions about the need for immunization, its safety or side effects. Please chose credible information that is evidence based when making your decision about immunization. Here are some references for evidence-based information about vaccination:
Obesity is a chronic disease.
It involves excessive body fat that impairs health in many ways.
There is substantial stigma associated with obesity and this needs to be challenged.
Obesity care needs to be more than 'eat less, move more.'
Multiple options exist including medical nutrition therapy, physical activity, psychological care, medications and surgery.
Please read the websites below for further information or please make an appointment with your doctor.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Bounceback Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9)
Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Ontario
Smoking is a serious risk factor for many diseases, and it is one of leading causes of illness in the world – and it’s preventable!
Risks of Smoking
Cardiovascular Disease – Heart attack, stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure, kidney failure, dementia
Cancer – Lung, mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, ovary, pancreas, and kidney
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – Emphysema, chronic bronchitis – causing shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, phlegm, lung dysfunction, need for oxygen, respiratory failure and death
Asthma – Worsens asthma, prevents asthma control, causes more flare-ups, causes shortness of breath, coughing, phlegm, and wheezing, reduced endurance
Allergies – Worsens allergy symptoms like coughing, sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes, and rashes
Infections – Increases the risk of respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, and dental cavities. It impairs your immune system when fighting infections or diseases.
Impotence – Reduces the blood flow to vessels needed for normal sexual function
Macular Degeneration – Increases the risk of developing this condition causing blindness
Pregnancy – Increases the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, low birth weight, and having a child with a respiratory problem. It reduces that amount of oxygen to the baby, and allows toxins to reach the baby.
Stomach Ulcers – Increases the risk of developing a dangerous stomach ulcer that can bleed, causing low blood levels (anemia)
Bad Breath – Alters the bacteria in your mouth and digestive system, causing mucous, phlegm, and bad breath
Second Hand Smoke – Affects those around you. Even the smell of smoke on your clothing can cause health problems for your friends, family, and co-workers
There are several resources available to help you quit smoking.
The key is to develop a plan with your Physician and learn about options that are right for you.
Resources to Help you Quit
Smokers Helpline Trying to Quit
Some Tips to Help You Quit
- review the resources available to quit
- develop a plan to quit with your Physician
- make a list of the top 10 reasons you want to quit, and post it where you will see it
- chose a quit date that has some significance, like a birthday, anniversary, pay day etc
- throw out everything related to smoking, including ash trays, lighters, matches, and cigarettes. No secret stash!
- add the money you would normally spend on smoking to a jar on your desk, so you can see how much you are saving by not smoking
- buy yourself something with the money you save by not smoking
- change your routines when you smoke, for example in the car, at work, on breaks
- replace smoking with another more positive behaviour, like eating a healthy snack, getting fresh air, exercising, etc
- plan for cravings – they will happen, so have a backup plan like chewing gum, using toothpicks, candies, veggie snacks, artificial cigarettes (water vapour)
- avoid other stimulants like caffeine and alcohol and sugar that may stimulate your urge to smoke
get plenty of exercise
- designate some smoke free places, like your home or car
- work on stress reduction – through exercise, hobbies and stress outlets
- ask others not to smoke around you
- avoid places, people, and situations where smoking occurs
- ask for support from a friend or family member
- quit smoking together with someone else, and support each other
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia
CBTi vs Sleeping Pills Infographic
White Coat Black Art Dr. Brian Goldman Insomnia
Sink into Sleep - Book by Judith Davidson
Vaccine Booking
Hamilton COVID Vaccine Booking
Vaccine Info
The vaccines approved in Canada thus far are all safe and effective. While there are rare serious side effects, the risk of COVID is far higher. Please see below for the evidence behind the vaccines. Please speak with your doctor if you have further questions.
Astra Zeneca and Johnson & Johnson Infographic
Ontario College of Family Physician Vaccine FAQs
Public Health Measures
Ontario Zones and Restrictions
COVID Articles
Paxlovid - COVID Antiviral Treatments
Health Canada Prevention and Risks
