Mental Health Resources for 2SLGBTQIA+ Newcomers: You Are Not Alone

Written by: Deepika Gupta, Articling Student

Every day, we meet courageous people who have left behind everything they know, not just for a better life, but for the right to live authentically. For many 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers and refugee claimants, the journey often comes with unique challenges - past trauma, family estrangement, and the stress of building a new life. Many of our clients arrive in Canada carrying heavy emotional burdens, unsure where to turn for support.

Imagine living in a place where loving who you love or simply being yourself can mean imprisonment, violence, or even death. For many 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals fleeing countries where homosexuality is criminalized and punishable by law, this is a harsh reality. Even in countries without the death penalty queer and trans people endure violence, blackmail, and social exclusion simply for existing. Leaving these environments behind is an act of survival, but the journey toward healing and belonging does not end at the border.

We are privileged to support 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers and refugee claimants who have survived unimaginable hardships. While Canada offers legal protection and a chance at a new life, the emotional scars of persecution, family rejection, and trauma often run deep. In so many cases, mental health support is just as vital as legal guidance in this journey.

Breaking the Silence: Why Therapy Matters

For many, the most challenging step is the first one: reaching out. Whether you have experienced trauma, discrimination, or difficulties in your relationships, it can be daunting to share your story.

Therapy can provide a safe, confidential space to process painful memories and begin healing. It’s a place where you can be your authentic self, free from judgment.

2SLGBTQIA+ refugees face heightened risks for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and isolation. Many have endured violence, discrimination, and rejection, not only from their home countries but sometimes even within their own families. The stress of adapting to a new culture, navigating the refugee claim process, and rebuilding community can feel overwhelming. In some cases, queer and trans newcomers face additional isolation, feeling unwelcome in Canada’s queer and trans spaces, but also not feeling supported in their own immigrant communities. Seeking mental health support is a courageous and necessary step toward healing.

Accessing Mental Health Support: IFHP

If you are a refugee claimant in Canada, you are not alone in this journey. The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides access to vital health services, including mental health counseling and therapy sessions, at no cost while your claim is being processed. This means you can seek support shortly after you arrive, without worrying about how to pay for it. To access IFHP, all you need is your Acknowledgement of Receipt for your refugee claim, or your Refugee Protection Claimant Document.

Finding Support in Toronto

Toronto is home to vibrant communities and organizations that welcome and support 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers and refugees. If you’re looking for a place to connect, heal, and find understanding, consider reaching out to:

• The 519 - the519.org

A cornerstone for Toronto’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community, The 519 offers drop-in groups, counseling, newcomer support, and social events specifically for 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees and immigrants.

• Access Alliance - accessalliance.ca

Provides trauma-informed, culturally sensitive mental health counseling, expressive arts programs, and support groups for 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers and refugees in Toronto.

• FCJ Refugee Centre - fcjrefugeecentre.org

  Offers settlement services, information sessions, and community connections for refugees and precarious migrants, including 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

• HQ Toronto - https://hqtoronto.ca/ 

HQ Toronto offers a stepped-care approach to matching cis buys into guys and all trans and AMAB non-binary people with the intensity of care they need.

• Sherbourne Health - sherbourne.on.ca

  Provides mental health counseling and health services specifically for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

• Family Service Toronto - familyservicetoronto.org

  Offers accessible individual, family, and group counseling with sliding scale fees.

• City of Toronto Mental Health Resources - toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/mental-health-resources/

• ConnexOntario – New Beginnings Clinic - https://connexontario.ca/program-details/?slug=toronto-beginnings-clinic-services-newcomers-31578 

These groups offer more than just services- they offer hope, belonging, and the reassurance that you are not alone. While the focus here is on organizations that offer connections to mental health services, many of them also offer other vital services for 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers like language conversation services, food security, housing, and sports and recreation.

You can also use online directories like the Affordable Therapy Network, Rainbow Health Ontario, and Psychology Today Canada to find therapists who specialize in 2SLGBTQIA+ issues and speak your language.

2025 Update: Expanded Mental Health Supports for Refugees

This year, Toronto has seen a continued expansion of trauma-informed, culturally sensitive mental health support for refugees and 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers. A significant and timely update is the opening of Carlton House, a new facility in Toronto specifically designed to house and support refugees and asylum seekers with a strong focus on mental health. Carlton House, operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Toronto, opened in early May 2025 and accommodates up to 25 adults for stays of six months to a year. This facility is not just a shelter, it provides on-site clinical mental health services, employment assistance, and help finding permanent housing, all in a setting designed to feel welcoming and home-like rather than institutional.

Additionally, organizations like Access Alliance have reaffirmed their commitment to providing integrated, anti-oppressive, and language-accessible counselling for those dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, and the impacts of homophobia and transphobia.

How We Help

At Battista Migration Law Group, our team is committed to helping 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and other immigrants navigate the complexities of Canada’s immigration system. We understand the unique challenges you face; not just legally, but emotionally and socially. Your well-being is as important to us as your case. While our services are limited to immigration matters, whenever possible, we support our clients by connecting them to service organizations to access the support they need.

As Mental Health Month May comes to an end, it’s time to reflect on the importance of caring for our minds and spirits. To all 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees and newcomers: your mental health matters. You have already shown incredible resilience by making it this far, but there is no shame in seeking some additional support.