Areas of Care

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Clinic

Overview

The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Clinic at The Ottawa Hospital provides outpatient consultation and care for patients with MS and related conditions such as neuromyelitis. 

Patients are seen for both initial referrals and follow-up visits. New referrals are prioritized based on medical need and urgency. 

An elderly patient uses a walker to stand up from a bed, assisted by a healthcare worker in blue scrubs in a bright, well-lit room.

Team

The clinic is staffed by a specialized team that includes neurologists, an advanced practice nurse, registered nurses, registered practical nurses and clerical staff. Our physicians are trained in managing MS and other central nervous system demyelinating conditions.

Nursing staff provide education and monitoring for MS treatments, assist with procedures and offer emotional support to patients and their families. Patients also receive referrals to multidisciplinary care providers as needed.

Research

The Ottawa Hospital is conducting cutting-edge research to improve our understanding of multiple sclerosis and develop better treatments.

Learn More

A gloved hand holds a blood sample vial above a rack containing multiple vials with different colored caps in a laboratory setting.

Referrals

Patients must be referred by a physician. Referring physicians should ensure that all necessary documentation is submitted before the patient’s first appointment. This includes medical history, imaging and test results to help prioritize care and support accurate assessment. 

Resources

National Suicide Crisis Helpline (English and French)

24/7 crisis and suicide intervention across Canada.

9-8-8

Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region (English and French)

24/7 emotional support, crisis intervention, education, and referrals by trained volunteers for those in Ottawa and surrounding areas. 

Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region

Distress Line (emotional support, crisis intervention, and community referrals) 

613-238-3311 

Crisis Line (situational crisis, psychosis, suicidal behavior, severe depression/anxiety) 

613-722-6914 (Ottawa) 
1-866-996-0991 (toll-free)

Ottawa Crisis Line (English and French)

24/7 crisis support, screening, assessment, referrals, and suicide intervention by trained volunteers for those in Ottawa and surrounding areas.

Crisis Line

613-722-6914 (Ottawa) 
1-866-996-0991 (toll-free)

Hope for Wellness Helpline for Indigenous Peoples (English, French, Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut)

24/7 crisis intervention, mental health counseling services, and referrals via phone and online tailored to the unique needs of Indigenous Peoples across Canada.

Hope For Wellness

1-855-242-3310

Boots on the Ground for First Responders (English)

24/7 anonymous peer support and crisis intervention for first responders (including police, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, nurses, corrections and parole officers, military, and veterans).

Boots on the Ground

1-833-677-2668

Counselling Connect  (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin)

One to three free individual counselling sessions via phone or video, with additional support groups available.

Counselling Connect

211 (in Ontario)

Walk-In Counselling Clinic  (English and French)

Same-day, single-session counseling for individuals, couples, and families, available both in-person and virtually.

Walk-In Counselling Clinic

Walk-in Counselling at Counselling and Family Service Ottawa  (English and French)

Single-session, same-day counseling for individuals, couples, and families. Services are available on a walk-in basis and address various mental health, family and personal concerns.

Counselling and Family Service Ottawa

613-233-8478 
TTY: 613-233-1866

AccessMHA  (English and French)

Connects people in Eastern Ontario with mental health and addiction support, providing streamlined access to assessments and appropriate care. Also has self-guided resources.

Cost: Free

AccessMHA

Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres of Ottawa  (English and French)

Directory of resources for the 13 Community Health and Resource Centres in Ottawa, offering information on various health services, support programs, and community initiatives available to residents.

Cost: Free

Coalition Ottawa

Counselling and Family Service (CFS) Ottawa (English and French)

Counseling and support services to individuals, couples, and families, with specialized support programs for the LGBTQ+ community.

Cost: Sliding scale fees according to annual income and number of dependents.

Counselling and Family Service (CFS) Ottawa

613-233-8478

Clinique de services psychologiques de l’UQO  (French)

Psychological services and assessments for children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples in the Outaouais region. Services are provided by graduate students under the supervision of licensed clinical psychologists.

Cost: Sliding scale fees based on income.

Clinique de Services Psychologiques de l’UQO

819-595-3900

Family Services Ottawa (English and French)

Counseling and support services for families, youth, and adults in Ottawa experiencing challenging situations. Services are offered by trained counselors.

Cost: Sliding scale fees based on income.

Family Services Ottawa

613-725-3601 ext. 0

Jewish Family Services of Ottawa  (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Dari, Farsi, German, Russian, Somali, Ukrainian, Urdu)

Counseling services grounded in Jewish values for individuals, couples, and families in the greater Ottawa area. Multilingual newcomer services supporting immigrants and refugees of all cultural backgrounds.

Cost: Sliding scale fees based on income.

Jewish Family Services of Ottawa

613-722-2225

The Counselling Group  (English, French, Spanish and Arabic)

Counseling services, mental health support, and community resources for individuals, couples, and families.

Cost: Free

The Counselling Group

The Ottawa Pastoral Counselling Centre  (English)

Counseling and psychotherapy services for individuals, couples, and families of all religious backgrounds.

Cost: Sliding scale fees based on income.

The Ottawa Pastoral Counselling Centre

613-235-2516

Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) Program at The Royal (English and French)

Provides a 12-session, evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy program designed to teach practical skills and strategies for managing mental health issues. Referral: www.AccessMHA.ca (self-referral for Access MHA screening appointment, after which a referral to OSP Program can be made if appropriate).

Cost: Free

1-877-527-8207

St. Paul’s University Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre  (English and French)

Counseling for individuals, couples, and families offered by students and counseling interns under supervision.

Cost: Sliding scale fees based on income.

St. Paul’s University Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre

613-782-3022

University of Ottawa Centre for Psychological Services and Research (CPSR) (English and French)

Psychological services and assessments for children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples. Services are offered by doctoral students and interns under the supervision of clinical psychologists.

Cost: Adjustable fees based on income.

University of Ottawa Centre for Psychological Services and Research

613-562-5289

BounceBack (English and French)

Online resources and worksheets addressing a variety of mental health concerns.

Bounce Back

Centre for Clinical Interventions (English)

Online resources and worksheets addressing a variety of mental health concerns.

Centre for Clinical Interventions

eMentalHealth (English and French)

An online resource directory of mental health services, including information sheets and screening tools.

eMentalHealth

Fem’aide (French)

24/7 helpline for Francophone women experiencing gender-based violence, offering support, information, and referrals to appropriate services.

Fem’aide

1-877-336-2433

Living Healthy Champlain (English and French)

Self-management supports, programs, and resources for individuals with chronic health conditions in the Champlain region.

Living Healthy Champlain

1-877-240-3941

Power Over Pain (English and French)

Free evidenced-based virtual resources to help youth and adults manage their chronic pain

Power Over Pain

Talk4Healing for Indigenous Women (English, Algonquin, Anishinaabe, Black Foot, Cree, Inuktitut, Micmac, Mohawk, Moose Cree, Odawa, Oji-Cree, Oneida, Potawatomi, Swampy Cree)

24/7 helpline offering support and resources for Indigenous women, provided by Indigenous women.

Talk4Healing for Indigenous Women

1-855-554-HEAL 
1-888-200-9997 (Crisis line)

Tel-Aide Outaouais (French)

Telephone helpline for mental health support in the Outaouais region and surrounding areas.

819-775-3223 (Outaouais) 
613-741-6433 (Ottawa) 
1-800-567-9699 (toll-free)

Togetherall (English and French)

Online community aimed at improving mental health with peer support forums, guided self-help programs, and educational materials.

Togetherall

Breaking Free (English and French)

24/7 online recovery support program that is self-managed, offering tools for managing addiction.

Breaking Free

Mood Disorders Ottawa (English)

Peer-run volunteer organization supporting individuals with mood disorders and other mental health challenges.

Mood Disorders Ottawa

613-526-5406

Centre for Clinical Interventions (English)

Online resources and worksheets addressing a variety of mental health concerns.

Centre for Clinical Interventions

Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa (English)

In-person and online peer support groups for individuals dealing with mental health and addiction challenges.

Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa 

613-567-4379 (Ottawa) 
1-877-550-4379 (toll-free)

Breaking Free (English and French)

Self-managed recovery support program. Access is provided by licensed organizations, such as healthcare providers and addiction services, who make Breaking Free available to those in their care.

Breaking Free

Community Addictions Peer Support Association (CAPSA): All People, All Pathways (English and French)

Peer group meetings for individuals with addictions. Families, allies, and professionals are also welcome.

Community Addictions Peer Support Association

Connex Ontario (English and French)

Information and navigation support for people experiencing issues with gambling, drugs, alcohol, or mental health.

Connex Ontario

1-866-531-2600

Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services (English)

Assists individuals and families dealing with substance use, behavioural addictions, and mental health issues. Cost: Contact by phone or email.

Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services

613-724-4881

SMART Recovery (English)

Self-management and recovery training program offering online and in-person support and resources for addiction.

SMART Recovery

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) Group (English) 

A CBT-i group program designed to help improve sleep patterns and manage insomnia. 
Cost: Covered by OHIP

Referral by physician

613-247-8880

MySleepWell (English) 

Online resource for managing sleep difficulties based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) principles for insomnia. 

MySleepWell

College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (English)

Public register to verify the credentials and areas of practice of licensed psychologists and behavior analysts in Ontario. Enter search criteria on the website to find a provider that fits your needs.

College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario

Ottawa Academy of Psychologists (English French)

Online directory of registered psychologists and psychological associates in the Ottawa area. Enter search criteria on the website to find a provider that fits your needs.

Ottawa Academy of Psychologists

613-235-2529

Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (English and French)

Public register to verify the credentials and areas of practice of licensed social workers and social service workers in Ontario.

Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers

Contact us

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Clinic

613-737-8532 ext. 0 
Symptom management line: 613 737-8532 ext. 2 

613-739-6631

The Ottawa Hospital – General Campus 
 2nd Floor, Room 2201 
501 Smyth Road Ottawa, ON  K1H 8L6

Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.