Opening Spring 2026
About the Urgent Care Clinic
The Royal’s Urgent Care Clinic will be a trusted place where people facing a mental illness crisis can receive expert care quickly and without a referral. The clinic will provide fast, compassionate support. It will offer same-day psychiatric assessments, crisis counselling and peer guidance — all in a space designed for healing, not waiting.
Mental health urgent care provides same-day or rapid access support for people experiencing a mental illness crisis. Urgent care is different from emergency care. Emergency departments are designed and equipped to handle immediate, life‑threatening crises.
The Royal’s Urgent Care Clinic will be here to support people experiencing significant distress from mental illness, but are not in a physical health crisis.
- Rapid access to psychiatric assessments, crisis counselling and peer guidance.
- Short‑term follow‑up care.
- System navigation support – e.g. referrals to other supports at The Royal.
Opening in late spring 2026, this program will accept walk-ins, referrals from primary care providers, transfers from local emergency departments, Ottawa Police Service and Ottawa Paramedic Service.
During your appointment, a member of the urgent care team will talk with you and help identify the support you need.
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Conversations at The Royal: Introducing the new Urgent Care Clinic
In this first episode of Conversations at The Royal, we explore The Royal’s upcoming Urgent Care Clinic and how it will help people access timely mental health support. This session breaks down what patients can expect during a visit, when urgent care is the right option, and how families can navigate moments of uncertainty or crisis.
Frequently asked questions
The Royal’s Urgent Care Clinic is NOT an emergency department. It’s a common misconception, but urgent care and emergency care serve different purposes. Mental health urgent care provides walk-in support and appointments for people experiencing a mental health crisis. For example, someone dealing with worsening symptoms of depression or anxiety after a significant life event, such as a job change or the end of a relationship.
Emergency departments, on the other hand, are equipped to manage immediate, life‑threatening crises — the moments when every second counts.
The Royal’s Urgent Care Clinic will be here to support people in mental distress, but not in a physical health crisis.
A mental illness crisis can look different for everyone, and there’s no single definition. It can be when things feel too overwhelming or urgent to wait for your next appointment with your primary care provider or therapist, or if you're unable to access those regular supports. Either way, you are experiencing distress and are looking for somewhere to access care immediately.
The clinic will provide both walk‑in and scheduled mental health care, including crisis support, medication adjustments, short‑term follow‑up, and system navigation assistance. Services may include anything from immediate crisis intervention to connection to other services at The Royal. Care will be tailored to each person’s needs and may involve follow‑up appointments when appropriate.
There are currently no walk-in or scheduled urgent mental health care services in Ottawa, resulting in overburdened emergency departments across the city. The Royal's clinic will change this, by providing timely, specialized care for people in crisis. Compassionate care will be provided by a highly skilled team, made up of psychiatrists, prescribers, nurses, social workers, and peer support workers.
The Urgent Care Clinic will be located on the first floor of The Royal’s main campus at 1145 Carling Ave. The entrance will be located to the left of the hospital’s main entrance.
The clinic will be open weekdays during the day, with plans to expand operating hours into the evening and weekends when operationally feasible.
No. You will not need a referral to be seen at the clinic.
At this time, the clinic will be available only to individuals aged 18 and older.
If you already have a treating psychiatrist, either at The Royal or in the community, you should continue to access care through them whenever possible. They know your history and how to best support you. However, if you are in distress or experiencing a crisis, and are unable to get timely access to your psychiatrist, The Royal’s Urgent Care Clinic will be here to help you.
Daily patient volumes may vary, but the clinic is generally able to welcome approximately 30 patients each day. On days when we reach full capacity ahead of closing time, the clinic may conclude operations a bit earlier. Should this occur, clear signage will be promptly updated at the entrance to keep visitors informed.
The clinic will include a large waiting room, six interview rooms, triage and medication rooms.
Construction is well underway and expected to take a few months. The clinic is set to open in late spring 2026.
The Urgent Care Clinic is a voluntary service, which means individuals must be willing and able to consent to receive care. If your family member does not want to come to the clinic, you cannot force them. However, you can still encourage them, offer support, and help them understand what the clinic provides so they can make an informed decision when they’re ready.
The clinic’s operations are being fully supported within our existing budget. We have identified and implemented internal efficiencies that allow us to sustain the clinic without requiring any additional funding. All construction and capital costs associated with preparing the space are being covered through generous donor support.
Donations to The Royal will help cover all construction and capital costs, and will ensure the clinic is fully equipped and ready to serve patients and families when it opens. Philanthropic support also helps strengthen the programs, research, and care that surround urgent mental health services at The Royal.
