Additional Health Services

There are a variety of specialized health services available in Waterloo Region.  These include:

• Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
• Immunizations
• Mental Health
• Pregnancy and your Baby’s Health
• Sexual Health
• Seniors Health

Healthy Eating and Physical Activity

Eating well and exercising are very important for staying healthy.  To learn more, go to:

• Updated Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating is offered in many languages.
• Nutrition Resource Centre has healthy eating information in  many languages.
• Dieticians of Canada helps you find a Dietician anywhere in Canada, and offers healthy eating information.  Call 1-877-510-5102 to talk to a registered dietician about healthy eating.
• HealthyWaterlooRegion.ca has information to help parents and caregivers raise healthy children who eat well, enjoy being active and feel good about themselves

Immunizations

Immunization or vaccination protects you and your children from infectious diseases. When you get an immunization, your body makes antibodies that fight infection. 

Children going to school in Ontario must have documentation (proof) of immunization or a valid exemption (reason for not getting immunizations).

Visit the Region of Waterloo Public Health Immunization Program and Immunization Clinic for information on immunizations and clinics.  Settlement.Org has more information and fact sheets in many languages.

Mental Health

Mental health is an important part of overall health, feeling good, and working well.  There are many places in Waterloo Region that help people with mental health issues, including:

• Canadian Mental Health Association Grand River Branch (CMHA GRB) supports people with serious mental health issues.  They have offices in Kitchener and Cambridge.
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health helps people with mental health and addictions.  Call 519-884-8757.
• List of general counselling services in Waterloo Region

You can also read more about mental health at Settlement.org.

Pregnancy and Your Baby’s Health

Giving your baby a healthy start in life is very important.  Region of Waterloo Public Health offers many reproductive health programs that support healthy pregnancies.  There are many programs, including a multicultural prenatal health fair where there are interpreters, and workshops in many languages.

You may also be interested in Finding a Doctor or The Health Care System.

Sexual Health

Sexual health is an important part of public health programs in Canada. The Region of Waterloo Public Health offers a number of clinics and programs that may meet your needs:

• Sexual Health Clinic offers private counselling and services for contraception, pregnancy, sexual decision-making and healthy relationships.
• HIV Testing Clinics offer free testing and private counselling for HIV/AIDS.
• Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics offers testing for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and gives the Hepatitis B vaccine for free to people at risk.
• AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, and Area (ACCKWA) supports people who are infected, affected, and at risk for HIV/AIDS.

Seniors Health

There are several health and support services available specifically for people over the age of 65:

• Ontario Seniors Secretariat
• Government of Ontario - Seniors’ Info 
• Community Care Access Centre has information about community support services available to people living at home and also about the admission process into a Long Term Care Home
• Resources for Seniors lists organizations and services for seniors in Waterloo Region

For more information…

• List of health resources in Waterloo Region
• Region of Waterloo Public Health for services, clinics, and programs.
• Health Canada has information on many health topics.
• A Guide To Community Resources For Refugees and Other Newcomers to Kitchener-Waterloo has information on  many resources in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, including health services.
• Ontario government health services for children and youth