The Conan Fund Patient Advocacy Program provides one-on-one support to individuals and families navigating Ontario’s mental health care system. We understand how overwhelming, confusing, and frustrating it can be to find the right care, communicate with healthcare providers, and determine what options are available when someone is struggling.

Our Patient Advocates work directly with individuals and their loved ones to help them understand their options, identify appropriate resources, and advocate for the care and support they need.

Important: Please note that we are not therapists, doctors, or medical professionals, and we do not provide medical advice, therapy, crisis intervention, or emergency services.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or are in immediate danger, please call 9-8-8 for immediate crisis support or visit your local emergency department.

Areas of Support:

Our advocates can provide guidance and support with:

• Inpatient & crisis mental health care: Helping individuals and families understand available options and navigate crisis and inpatient services, including support communicating with hospitals, Patient Relations departments, patient advocates, and members of a loved one’s care team.

• Outpatient mental health services: Helping identify appropriate community resources, including therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, rehabilitation programs, counselling services, and other supports. Includes support with referrals.

• Self-advocacy: Working alongside individuals to help them communicate their needs, understand their options, prepare for conversations with healthcare professionals, and advocate for themselves.

• Family & loved-one support: Providing guidance, education, and practical suggestions to families who may feel overwhelmed navigating the mental health system on behalf of someone they love.

• Resource navigation: Helping individuals identify appropriate services and supports available throughout Ontario based on their individual circumstances.

• Care coordination guidance: Helping individuals and families organize information, prepare questions, understand next steps, and communicate more effectively with the professionals involved in their care.

  
  

“Mental health is not a destination but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going” - Noam Shpancer

Who Are Our Advocates?

Our Patient Advocates are individuals with lived experience navigating the mental healthcare system themselves or alongside a loved one. They understand firsthand how difficult it can be to seek help, navigate hospitals and community services, and feel heard within a system that can sometimes be overwhelming.

Our advocates combine lived experience with extensive knowledge of Ontario’s mental health resources and care pathways. They approach every person with compassion, respect, patience, and without judgment.

Some of our advocates also have professional backgrounds in mental health, including fields such as social work. However, due to professional licensing requirements and legal boundaries, advocates cannot provide services that require a professional license through our advocacy program. For example, if a client requires social work services, they must connect with a social worker through an appropriate setting where that professional is licensed and authorized to provide those services.

While our advocates cannot replace doctors, therapists, social workers, or other healthcare professionals, they can stand beside you & support you as you navigate the system and help identify and connect you with appropriate supports.

Our goal is simple: to make sure no one has to navigate Ontario’s mental health system alone.

Patient Eligibility

Our Patient Advocacy Program is available to individuals and families seeking support navigating Ontario’s mental healthcare system. We typically do not turn families away based on their circumstances; however, due to the volume of submissions and the demand for our services, there may be a short wait before we are able to connect with you.

We aim to review submissions and reach out within 7 business days. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to support each family with the care and attention they deserve.

Kindly note the following eligibility requirements:

• Age 18 or older

• Located in Ontario

• Experiencing mental health challenges

• Seeking support navigating the healthcare system

• Able to participate in virtual advocacy

• Consents to receiving advocacy support

• Willing to receive support

Ready to Take the Next Step?
You don’t have to navigate Ontario’s mental health system alone.

If you or someone you care about is looking for support, you can take the first step by submitting a referral to our Patient Advocacy team. Our team will review your referral and connect with you to better understand your needs, answer any questions, and discuss how we may be able to support you.

How It Works

1. Submit a Referral

Complete our referral form with some basic information about yourself, the person you are referring, and the type of support you are looking for.

2. Our Team Reviews Your Referral

Once your referral has been submitted, a member of our team will review the information provided and determine the best way to follow up with you.

3. We’ll Be in Touch

A member of our team will contact you within 7 days of receiving your referral to discuss next steps and determine how we can best support you.

What Can You Expect?

Our Patient Advocates are here to listen, provide guidance, and help you better understand and navigate the mental healthcare system. We can help you identify available resources, understand care pathways, prepare for conversations with healthcare providers, and navigate some of the challenges that can come with accessing mental health services.

Every person's situation is different. Our approach is compassionate, individualized, and focused on helping you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

You’re Taking an Important First Step

Asking for support can be difficult. You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out, and you don't need to know exactly what kind of help you need.

Start by submitting a referral. We'll take it from there.

Submit Your Referral

Complete the referral form and tell us a little about what you're experiencing and what support you're looking for.

Our team will be in touch within 7 days of receiving your referral.

Submit your referral here

Want to become a patient Advocate?

We are looking for compassionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated individuals to join our team as Patient Advocate volunteers!

Our Patient Advocates will work one-on-one with individuals and families to help them navigate the mental healthcare system, understand their options, find appropriate resources, communicate with healthcare providers, and advocate for the care and support they deserve.

Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be 21 years of age or older

• Be located in Ontario, Canada

• Be available to work a changing schedule of approximately 10 hours per week, with hours subject to change based on program needs

• Be able to work primarily virtually, with major exceptions for occasional in-person advocacy when required

• Have reliable access to a computer, phone, and internet

• Have strong written and verbal communication skills

• Be able to maintain strict confidentiality and professional boundaries

• Be dependable, organized, and able to manage advocacy cases responsibly

• Be comfortable working with sensitive and confidential information

• Be willing to complete required training and onboarding

• Be willing to complete any required screening or background checks

• Be able to work independently while also communicating effectively with the Conan Fund team

• Be committed to treating every individual and family with dignity, compassion, and respect

We’re Looking for Individuals Who:

• Have personal lived experience navigating the mental healthcare system, either for themselves or alongside a loved one

• Have a strong understanding of mental health services and resources available throughout Ontario

• Are passionate about helping others navigate a system that can often feel overwhelming and confusing

• Are empathetic, patient, compassionate, and non-judgmental

• Are confident advocating for individuals while remaining respectful and professional

• Are comfortable communicating with individuals, families, hospitals, Patient Relations departments, healthcare professionals, and community organizations

• Have strong problem-solving and resource-navigation skills

• Can remain calm and supportive during emotionally difficult conversations

• Understand the importance of empowering individuals to advocate for themselves

• Are committed to continuing to learn about Ontario’s mental healthcare system and available resources

• Want to use their own experiences to help make someone else’s journey a little easier

Experience That Is an Asset:

Experience in mental health, healthcare, social work, patient advocacy, crisis support, peer support, case management, counselling, psychology, healthcare administration, community services, or non-profit organizations is considered an asset.

However, professional experience is not the only thing we value. We believe lived experience, compassion, empathy, and a genuine commitment to helping others are incredibly important qualities in a Patient Advocate.

Professional experience in mental health, healthcare, social services, advocacy, crisis support, or a related field is an asset, but lived experience and a genuine commitment to helping others are equally important to us.

This is an opportunity to use your experiences, knowledge, and compassion to help someone else navigate a system that can often feel overwhelming and confusing.

Interested in Joining Us?

If you believe you would be a good fit for the Conan Fund Patient Advocacy Program, we would love to hear from you.

Please email your résumé and cover letter to:

📧 jacob@conanfund.org

Please include “Patient Advocate Application” in the subject line.

We’re looking for people who genuinely care about making sure people feel heard, respected, supported, and never alone.