West Carleton Family Health Team
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  • About
    • Our Vision
    • The Team
    • Latest News
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Policies
  • Services
  • Patients
    • Forms
    • New Patients
    • Health Plans
    • Preparing for your Appointment
    • Urgent Care
  • Health Information
    • Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • Do I Need to be Seen Today?
    • Patient Resources
    • Healthy Living
    • Prenatal/Early Childhood Health
    • Immunizations
  • Patient Portal
    • WCFHT Health Portal
    • MyChart
    • Connected Care
  • Contact
stress management
At one time or another, we all face stress in our lives. Not only does stress affect our thoughts and feelings, it can also have negative impacts on our behaviour and our health. For instance, stress can impact our sleep, result in increased anger, social withdrawal or cause us to engage in damaging behaviour such as increased drug/alcohol/tobacco use, excess caffeine, or unhealthy eating habits (over-eating, under-eating or poor food choices). Sources of stress vary from one individual to another but commonly involve work/school, health concerns (your own, or of a loved one), financial issues, and family.

Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can help our ability to catch them early and begin to manage them. Some common signs and symptoms of stress include:
  • Headache
  • Muscle tension
  • Fatigue
  • Upset stomach
  • Problems sleeping
  • Anxiety/worry
  • Lack of motivation
  • Feeling overwhelmed/irritable
  • Feeling sad/depressed

Some strategies that may help to manage stress include: getting plenty of sleep; regular exercise; eating a healthy, balanced diet; avoiding tobacco, excess caffeine and alcohol; learning relaxation techniques, meditation and mindfulness; and seeking help at the earliest signs of stress.

Services are available both at the West Carleton Family Health Team and in the community.

Extended Health Plan and/or Employee Benefits
Check to see if your employer offers health benefits for counselling/psychological services or resources that assist employees with stress management. Some organizations, including the Government of Canada, offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). An EAP service generally offers employees confidential, in-person and online counselling along with online resources. You can find out if your employer offers an EAP service by asking your manager, Human Resources Department, Union, or Health and Safety Representative.
Note: Government of Canada employees with access to the EAP service can call the 24-hour Crisis and Referral Centre at 1-800-268-7708 (or 1-800-567-5803 for persons with hearing impairment) for support and assistance.

Counselling is available for clients of the WCFHT to support with stress management, including caregiver stress. Please talk to your healthcare provider if you would like to be referred to a mental health counsellor. Twice a year we offer a 5-week interactive group workshop that teaches a variety of techniques to better manage stress and reduce its impact on your health.

Ottawa residents can access the following community mental health resources
The Distress Centre Calls answered 24/7 at 613-238-3311
Tel-Aide Outaouais French-language mental health telephone support from 8 a.m. to midnight. Ottawa residents can call 613-741-6433 and Gatineau residents can contact 819-775-3223
Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) provides confidential 24/7 phone and web-counselling for children ages 20 and under
Youth Services Bureau (YSB) provides youth and family counselling, crisis support, a 24/7 crisis line at 613-260-2360, walk-in counselling and an online crisis chat service for youth at chat.ysb.ca.
The Walk-In Counselling Clinics provide free, confidential single-session counselling sessions throughout Ottawa.
211 connects callers to community, social, government and health service information in Ottawa 24/7. The service is free, confidential and multilingual.
​Mental Health Supports for Health Care Workers

The following Family Service Agencies provide counselling services with a sliding fee scale geared to income and family size. All services are nondenominational.

Family Services Ottawa  613-725-3601
Jewish Family Services  613-722-2225
CFS Ottawa  613-233-8478
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West Carleton Family Health Team