Merrymount Family Support & Crisis Centre

About Merrymount Family Support & Crisis Centre

Merrymount Family Support & Crisis Centre is a non-denominational community organization located on Colborne Street in London's Old North neighbourhood. It serves children and families across the city and surrounding communities, providing support for those navigating through and beyond crisis. The organization describes itself as an accredited children’s mental health centre that offers strength-based interventions and care to help families build healthier relationships and ensure children feel valued and loved. The centre provides a variety of programs and services at no cost to families, including the Child Mental Wellness Program, parenting groups, children's groups, and community outreach. They also host a Supervised Access Program with locations in London/Middlesex, St. Thomas/Elgin County, and Woodstock/Oxford County. To help families prepare for their first visit, the organization provides resources such as videos to familiarize caregivers with the intake process and overnight stays. Established in 1874 as the Protestant Home for Orphans, Aged, and Friendless, the organization has served the community for 150 years. It transitioned to a focus on residential care for families in crisis in the 1890s and adopted the name Merrymount in 1967 to reflect its non-denominational approach. The current facility was built in 1991. The organization is guided by a leadership team that includes Board President Melanie Morgan. Families can access support through self-referral or through referrals from schools, doctors, shelters, or lawyers. The intake department responds to requests within 24 hours, with many emergency requests accommodated immediately. While services are generally provided in English, the organization notes that services are not available in French.