Stay Healthy and Well this Holiday Season and Know Where to get Care if you Need It

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Timmins, ON – Timmins and District Hospital wishes a safe and health holiday season for all people living across Timmins and Area. With many, health service providers working at reduced hours over the holidays, the hospital emergency department can get very busy and become a frustrating experience for people.

The following are a few things we can all do to stay healthy and well over the holidays as well as some community resources where people can find care across the area.

Stay Healthy and Well - Protect Yourself and Others:

  • Get vaccinated! Before going out to a holiday event, make sure you have your COVID-19 vaccine and your annual flu shot. Book a COVID-19 vaccine or flu vaccine and stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. To find out where shots are being offered closest to you, visit phu.fyi/flu-shot.
  • Wash your hands often, either with soap or water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Wear a mask if you’re not feeling well.
  • Stay home while you are experiencing symptoms such as cough, fever, runny nose, and sore throat. As well as staying home for 24 hours after illness (or 24 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms).
  • Follow public health guidance to protect yourself and others.

Community Resources – Finding the Right Place and Right Care for You

For Critical or life-threatening conditions that need immediate attention:

  • If you need urgent medical attention, for example, you have shortness of breath, severe chest pain or stroke symptoms, even if you are uncertain, always call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

For non-life-threatening health concerns, if you have a primary care provider:

  • Contact your primary care provider to book an appointment.

For non-life-threatening health concerns, if you don’t have a primary care provider:

  • Get connected with a registered nurse day or night for free by calling or texting 8-1-1 (formerly Telehealth Ontario). More information, including a live chat feature can be found here: https://health811.ontario.ca/static/guest/home

For urgent medication refill:

  • Call your primary care provider or pharmacist to provide an emergency refill of your prescription.

For help with mental health crisis:  

  • Contact the Timmins and District Hospital Crisis Line at 705-264-3003.Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (NEOFACS) Crisis services. These services are for youth and families who are risk of harm resulting from suicidal ideation, self-injurious behaviors or homicidal ideation. Call 705-360-7100, available 24/7.
  • Call the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8. This service offers trauma-informed and culturally informed support for anyone thinking of suicide, or who is worried about someone they know.
  • The Kids Help Phone crisis line is available at 686868 or text CONNECT to 686868. Available 24/7.

For First Nations Inuit and Métis Peoples seeking emotional support, crisis intervention, or referrals to community-based services.

  • Call Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free). This service is available 24/7 and is offered in English, French and by request in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.

For Community and social services such as housing, food, employment, financial assistance, caregiver support and family services:  

  • Call 2-1-1. This service is available 24/7.
  • If your doctor or nurse practitioners’ office is closed, find alternatives such as walk-in clinics and urgent care by using the HealthLine tool. Learn how to search your local Healthline in the video provided below.
  • Update your list of emergency contacts and post them in a visible place, like on the fridge.
  • Holidays can be mentally tough. Take time to find supports and put your mental health first.

The Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) is a fully accredited community, referral and teaching hospital serving the residents of the City of Timmins and Cochrane District as well as the adjoining areas of the Timiskaming, Sudbury and Algoma districts. The hospital offers a full range of medical, surgical, critical care, maternity, newborn, pediatric, long-term care, mental health and diagnostic imaging services.

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For more information contact:
Kaileigh Russell
Communication Specialist
Timmins and District Hospital
705-267-2131 Ext. 2409
krussell@tadh.com