BetterRaising a child, standing by a struggling teenager, watching over an elderly parent, supporting someone who is ill… Caring for your family asks a great deal, and there is no shame in asking for a hand. In Quebec, free and confidential helplines and services exist for every stage of life. Here is how to find your way.
A parent who needs to talk: Tel-jeunes Parents, 1 800 361-5085. A young person who is struggling: Tel-jeunes, 1 800 263-2266, or Aire ouverte (ages 12-25, free). A senior being mistreated: Elder Mistreatment Helpline, 1 888 489-2287. And if you are supporting someone close: Info-aidant, 1 855 852-7784. In case of danger: 911.
Start hereWho are you looking for help for?
Choose the door that matches your situation.
ParentingParents: you do not have to carry it all
Being a parent does not come with a manual. Feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or worried is normal, and talking to someone really helps.
- Tel-jeunes Parents, 1 800 361-5085 (formerly LigneParents): someone to listen, and advice on parenting, crises, adolescence… Free and confidential.
- 811, Info-Socialto speak to a professional at any time, when it weighs on you.
- A Maison de la famille or a community family organisation near you (211 can point you in the right direction).
Childhood & youthHelping a child or a young person
A young person who is struggling needs to know they can talk, in confidence. Here are resources made for them.
- Tel-jeunes, 1 800 263-2266 (also by text at 1 866 811-4811, every day from 8 a.m. to midnight): listening and support for young people, free and confidential.
- Aire ouvertefree and confidential health and wellness services for ages 12 to 25 (mental health, sexual health, substance use, relationships), with or without an appointment and with no waiting list. 811 or 211 will tell you the nearest service point.
A child in danger? You can report the situation to the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ) in your region. In case of immediate danger, call 911; 211 can give you the right number near you.
SeniorsSupporting a senior
Our seniors deserve to grow old safely and with dignity. If you are worried about one of them, you are not the only one who can act.
- Elder Mistreatment Helpline, 1 888 489-2287: listening and referral, free and confidential, in French and English, every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For the senior themselves, someone close, or a witness. If a life is in danger, call 911.
CaregiversCaring without losing yourself
Supporting someone who is ill, elderly or disabled is an immense role, and sometimes exhausting. You too are entitled to support.
- Info-aidant (L'Appui), 1 855 852-7784: listening, information and referral for caregivers, without judgment, Monday to Friday (also by chat).
Without depending on anyoneWhat you can do yourself
Beyond the helplines, a few simple habits lighten daily life for the whole family. Here are steps you control.
Lightening the day-to-day
- Listen first, without judging: ask one question at a time and let the person speak at their own pace.
- Set up a small routine (meals, sleep, a moment together each day), it steadies the whole household.
- List the tasks and share them with other relatives: you do not have to carry it all alone.
- If you are supporting someone, keep their appointments, medication and key contacts in one place.
- Keep time for yourself, even 15 minutes a day: an exhausted caregiver helps less well.
- Find someone you trust to talk to when it gets heavy, breaking the isolation changes everything.
One last wordLoving also means asking for help
Seeking support for your family takes nothing away from your love or your competence, quite the opposite. You do not have to solve everything today. Take one single step: a call, a question, or simply noting the right number for next time. Caring for others often begins with accepting a hand.
Frequently askedYour questions
I am an overwhelmed parent, who can I talk to?
Call Tel-jeunes Parents (formerly LigneParents) at 1 800 361-5085: someone to listen and advice for parents, free of charge and without judgment. To speak to a professional at any time, you can also dial 811 and choose Info-Social.
My teenager is struggling: what free resources exist?
Your young person can reach Tel-jeunes at 1 800 263-2266 (or by text). There is also Aire ouverte, free and confidential health and wellness services for ages 12 to 25, with or without an appointment and with no waiting list.
What do I do if I think a child is in danger?
You can report the situation to the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ) in your region. In case of immediate danger, call 911. 211 can give you the right DPJ number near you.
I think a senior is being mistreated, who do I call?
Call the Elder Mistreatment Helpline at 1 888 489-2287: free and confidential, in French and English, every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. If a life is in danger, call 911.
I am exhausted from caring for someone: is there support?
Yes. Info-aidant, L'Appui's service for caregivers, offers listening, information and referral at 1 855 852-7784, Monday to Friday. Taking care of yourself is part of taking care of the other person.
This may also helpOther needs
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We are here to help you find the right door.
Sources
- Gouvernement du Québec, Aire ouverte (services for ages 12 to 25, in French)
- Gouvernement du Québec, Mistreatment of seniors (Elder Mistreatment Helpline, in French)
- L'Appui for caregivers, Info-aidant (in French)
- Tel-jeunes, lines for young people and parents (in French)
About this article. General information, accurate as of the date shown, this is neither an emergency service nor professional advice. In case of danger, call 911. The resources cited are free and confidential; their contact details can change, 811 and 211 can always point you in the right direction. BetterWorld is a social-economy organisation, independent of the Government of Quebec.
Spotted an error or an out-of-date figure? Write to us: we will correct it and re-date the article. Our texts are written with the help of artificial intelligence and checked against official sources before publication, but an amount or a rule can change without us catching it. If anything here does not match what an official body tells you, they are right.