Terms of Service

By using the services of Distress Centres of Greater Toronto (“DCGT,” “we,” “us”), you agree to the following terms.

1. About This Service

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto is a free, volunteer-run support service and part of a wider network of community support organizations. We offer emotional support and active listening. We are not a government agency, a medical provider, or a licensed counselling service, and our volunteers are not acting as therapists, doctors, or crisis clinicians.

2. If You Are in Immediate Crisis

We are not an emergency service and are not staffed or equipped to respond to life-threatening situations in real time.

• If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
• If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or need immediate crisis support, call or text 988 (Suicide Crisis Helpline), available 24/7.

We encourage anyone in acute distress to use these services rather than waiting for us.

3. No Guaranteed Response Time

We are a volunteer-run organization, and call volumes vary. We do not guarantee any specific wait time, availability, or level of service, and calls are answered on a best-effort basis as volunteers become available. We are always working to reduce wait times, but we cannot promise an immediate response.

4. Confidentiality and Call Recording

Your privacy is important to us. Calls may be recorded for quality control and volunteer training purposes. Recordings are handled in accordance with our privacy practices and are not shared outside the organization except where we are required or permitted to do so by law.

5. Respectful Conduct

We ask all callers to communicate respectfully with our volunteers. Harmful or abusive language may result in your call being ended and may lead to restricted or terminated access to this service. This policy exists to protect the wellbeing of the volunteers who make this service possible.

6. No Professional Advice

Support provided through this line is not a substitute for professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, or legal advice or treatment. The service is provided on an “as-is,” best-effort basis, without warranties of any kind, express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Distress Centres of Greater Toronto, its volunteers, and its affiliated network are not liable for any outcome, decision, or harm arising from the use of, or inability to reach, this service.

Last Revised: August 25, 2026