Parents and Caregivers

We’re here to help.

Quick Links

  • To connect directly with a counsellor through online video / or voice, go to: onestoptalk.ca or call 1-855-416-8255.

    One Stop Talk is a FREE virtual “walk-in” counselling program where children, youth and their families can talk to a clinician by phone, video conference, text and chat without an appointment from anywhere in the province.

    One Stop Talk operates Monday to Friday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

    Learn More

  • Need immediate help?

    • Call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest Hospital Emergency Room

    • Call the Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) at 905-972-8338 to speak with a mental health clinician available 24 hours.

    • Kids Help Phone: 24/7: 1-800-668-6868

    • Call or text 9-8-8 is available to anyone in Canada who is thinking about suicide or is worried about someone they know. For more information visit 988.ca

  • Appointments can be made through Access and System Navigation (ASN) - the single point of access for all child and youth mental health services in the Hamilton area.

    Services are completely free, and an OHIP card is not required.

    For more information or to make an appointment, please click here.

We offer free mental health services for Hamilton children, youth, and their families.

At Lynwood Charlton Centre, we provide compassionate, expert support for children and youth (0-18 years of age), and their families. This is your starting point for finding help, understanding the process, and discovering hope.

When you’re worried about your child, it can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to find your way alone.

We’re here to help you and your child through this.

We offer a range of free, immediate support tailored to what your child and family need most, including:

  • Crisis support for when things feel urgent.

  • Counselling to help navigate big emotions and challenges.

  • Specialized programs in homes, schools, and the community.

Our goal is to provide a safe space for your child to heal, build resilience, and rediscover their strengths—while giving you the support and hope you need, too.

You are not alone. Let us help you find the right next step.

Programs and Services
Painting of a colorful hummingbird flying near a rainbow, with trees and a squirrel inside a tree cavity and a hummingbird in the background.
A red brick building with multiple windows and a Canadian flag on a flagpole outside, surrounded by greenery and parked cars.
A diverse group of seven people, four women and three men, sitting and standing in front of a colorful butterfly wall mural with rainbow-colored wings.
A sidewalk leading to a building with a grassy area and trees on both sides. The building has a gray wooden exterior and a sculpture of a clock with a bird on top outside.
Children playing on a colorful playground with slides and climbing structures in a lush green backyard.
A small bedroom with a blue bedspread featuring cartoon characters, stuffed animals, and a single pillow. There is a window with dark curtains, a potted plant on the windowsill, and posters on the wall. A desk with books and papers is next to the bed
Colorful mural of a forest scene with trees, deer, birds, butterflies, a waterfall, and a snail.
Modern residential building with a brick and concrete facade, accessible parking under the upper floor, and surrounded by green trees and grass.
Empty cafeteria dining area with round and rectangular tables, metal chairs, window with blinds, and breakfast items on the tables.
Group of nine smiling people, mainly women, posing for a selfie indoors. They are wearing white or denim shirts, some with lanyards, and are standing near a railing and a door with a poster.
Interior space with a yellow sliding door, blue wall, black chairs, purple door with glass window, and a kitchenette in the background.
A child's bedroom with a single bed, colorful quilt, and pillows, a rug with a city map design, and a pile of stuffed animals in the corner.
Two children on a swing set, one boy swinging and a girl standing nearby, in a backyard with a wooden privacy fence. Two people sit at a picnic table nearby, with a woman reading a book and a young girl standing close by.
Indoor room with a bubble tube with pink lights, a blue lounge chair, a green rug, a circular wall art, and a disco ball hanging from the ceiling.
Two girls sitting on a couch in a living room playing a card game at a wooden table.
A bedroom with a single bed, a window with a black curtain, a white desk with a yellow chair, a lamp, a corkboard, a trash can, and hardwood floors.
Interior of a cozy lobby or waiting area with sofas, a coffee table, colorful abstract paintings on the wall, and a mirror, with warm lighting and wooden flooring.
Group of 16 people, mostly women, standing and sitting on steps outside a brick building, wearing white T-shirts with a small logo, posing for a group photo.
Four people sitting and talking in a room with beige couches, a pink accent wall, windows, and a television on a stand.
Group of twelve women standing outdoors on a sunny day, some wearing white T-shirts, in front of green trees and a sidewalk.
Recreation room with exercise equipment, a pool table, and a seating area, lit by natural light from a large window.
A dining room with a wooden table, white chairs, colorful cups, a large window, a brick fireplace with a mantel, and two framed pictures on the wall.
A classroom or activity room with blue walls, several computers on desks, posters on the walls including one with Che Guevara, and a round table with red chairs.
Interior of a communal space with a long dining table and mismatched chairs, a bookshelf with books, and a kitchen area in the background.
Six people standing outdoors in a garden, smiling, with one person holding an accordion and an elderly woman with a cane wearing a hat.

Orientation Guide: Your starting point

Download The Lynwood Charlton Centre Orientation Guide to get an overview of essential information about the care we provide.

Download icon inside a green circle

What to Expect

A Partnership with You

At Lynwood Charlton Centre, we believe that you are the expert on your child. Our approach is built on partnership.

  1. We Listen: We start by understanding your child’s strengths, challenges, and goals from your perspective.

  2. We Collaborate: Together, we create a personalized plan that works for your child and your family.

  3. We Support: We walk alongside you with evidence-based care, regular communication, and unwavering compassion.

Our Promise: To provide a safe, welcoming space where your child’s potential can flourish, and your family feels supported every step of the way.

Client Rights and Policies

As the lead agency for child and youth mental health in Hamilton, we have policies and procedures in place to ensure we deliver the highest quality care to our clients and their families.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

  • As the Lead Agency for Child and Youth Mental Health in Hamilton, we support children and adolescents (0-18 and of all gender presentations), and their parents/caregivers who are experiencing complex mental health challenges.

    This support would include:

    • Intensive out-of-home programs run out of 4 sites in Hamilton, Ontario;

    • At-home treatment programs;

    • Specialized counselling services for Immigrant and Refugee children, youth and their families;

    • Specialized counselling services for children and youth (up to age 18) who have been sexually victimized;

    • Culturally-informed specialized mental health services for children, youth, and families who identify as Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Colour (BIPOC);

    • School-based mental health programs for students;

    • Professional mental health support and resources for community Educators.

  • Lynwood Charlton Centre specialized programs are accessed through referrals through Access and System Navigation (ASN)

    Access and System Navigation (ASN) offers one point of access for children/youth/families and professionals who require information or services offered from Core Service Providers in Hamilton.

    ASN provides information and assists in determining which supports and services best meet the needs of the child / youth and their families.

    Learn More / Make a Referral

  • During your Intake we will discuss what services and supports are available. Based on your specific needs and the options available, we will then identify what level of care is required and which service best meets your immediate needs.

    This assessment will include gathering information on your demographics, health and other background information.

  • The wait times vary depending on the service you need. Shorter-term services are generally faster to access. More intensive services typically have longer waiting times.

  • We use a multidisciplinary approach to our service delivery with each program led by a Program Manager and Team Leader(s).

    In child and youth mental health, multidisciplinary care means:

    • Holistic support: Combining clinical perspectives (like occupational therapy, social work, and nursing) to address all aspects of well-being—emotional, social, developmental, and physical.

    • Seamless collaboration: Regular team consultations ensure care is coordinated, with no gaps or redundancies.

    • Strength in diversity: Our team includes child and youth workers, developmental service workers, social workers, occupational therapists, and nurse practitioners—each bringing unique expertise to the table.

    This model ensures every child receives comprehensive care tailored to their complex needs, not just isolated treatments.

  • Length of service varies depending on what is being sought. Your LCC worker will discuss this with you at intake.

  • Your involvement at Lynwood Charlton Centre is private and confidential.

    Your information will only be shared among staff and placement students who need to know in order to help with your situation. Private and confidential information is shared only with consent of the parent/ guardian or youth.

    Exceptions are made in the case of suspected child abuse where reporting is mandatory, where the law requires disclosure through a court order, or when the client or another person is at serious risk of harm.

  • There are no fees for services at Lynwood Charlton Centre.

    Our child and youth mental health services are funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Health.

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Resources and Mental Health Topics