Mental Health Resource List for Participants

If you are concerned about yourself or your child’s mental health, please contact your doctor or reach out to one of the many available community resources. These include S.A.F.E.R, Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, HeretoHelp, CrisisCentreBC, and the suicide hotline (1-800-SUICIDE; 1-800-784-2433).
Additional resources to help you include: 

Immediate Support
If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call one of the numbers below any time of the day or night.
Call 9-1-1 if you or someone you know is:

• trying to end your or their own life,
• feeling or experiencing something that you know is not real, or
• experiencing a drug, medication or alcohol overdose or taking a dangerous combination of these.

Call 1-800-SUICIDE at 1-800-784-2433 if you or someone you know:

• is thinking about ending their own life, or
• need someone to talk to about suicidal thoughts or ideas.

Emotional Support
If you or someone you know would like emotional support to deal with a feeling, issue or concern call one of the numbers below any time of the day or night.
Call 310-Mental Health at 310-6789 (no area code needed) if you:

• need emotional support to deal with a concern or feeling, or
• are looking for information on mental health resources or services.

Call Kid's Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 if you are under 20 years of age to speak to a professional counsellor about:

• dealing with problems,
• making a hard decision, or
• you are concerned with feelings or mood.

Phone Services
If you or someone you know needs help, call one of the following numbers:

Emergency Help

• For emergency help contact information, call9-1-1 or see Immediate Support.

Non-Emergency Help

• FoundryBC Virtual: Foundry BC is now offering virtual drop-in counselling for young people ages 12-24 and their families. Call 1-833-FØUNDRY (FØUNDRY with a zero! or 1-833-308-6379), or the local number 604-283-2234, to book an appointment. Sessions will run Monday to Friday between 1:15pm to 5:00pm, with the last appointment at 4pm. 
• HealthLink BC: Call 8-1-1 (toll-free) if you need non-emergency health information or advice. Available 24 hours a day.
• Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre: Call toll-free from anywhere in B.C.: 1-800-665-1822; Lower Mainland: 604-875-2084 for peer support, assistance in navigating the mental health system and accessing resources, and information and education about mental health and substance use challenges. Available Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 5pm Pacific Time.

In-Person Services
Services are subject to change depending on the current circumstances. Please visit the Mental Health and Substance Use Supports in BC or your health authority website to find services and resources in your area.
There are a number of healthcare providers who may be involved in your care:

• Your Family Doctor: They can rule out any other causes for your symptoms, prescribe medications, do limited counselling and refer you to a psychiatrist or other special services.
• Counsellors: Including psychologists, clinical counsellors, and social workers. 
• School or Campus Counselling Services for Students.
• Workplace Counselling Services: Often offered through benefit programs such as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or through extended health coverage. EAP programs are often for both the employee and their family.
• Mental Health Teams: Most communities in B.C. have mental health teams for adults and children. You can often self-refer, but sometimes a referral from a health care provider may be required.

If you are unsure which of these care providers you should work with, start with your family doctor who can help you find your way to the support you need.

App Resources

• BoosterBuddy Mobile App: A free, mobile app for young people to check in on their feelings each day, learning coping skills and keep track of appointments, medications, and tasks. Created in part by a youth design team in the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
• Dealing with Depression (DWD): A resource for teens who have been coping with depressed mood. It teaches a set of skills you can apply to your own life to overcome depression.
• Mindshift: A free, mobile app designed to help teens and young adults learn how to relax, develop helpful ways of thinking, and identify active steps that will help teens take charge. Created by AnxietyBC.
• Stresslr: A free web app that provides a fun and engaging way for children ages 9 to 11 to understand what causes them stress, how they react to it, and to develop healthy strategies to cope with stress in their everyday lives.

Online Resources

• AnxietyCanada: Provides self-help, peer reviewed and trusted resources on anxiety. Online resources include educational videos on YouTube, information exchange on Facebook, downloadable articles and resources, and the Mindshift App. 
• BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services: Provides a range of specialized mental health and substance use services for adults across the province.
• Bounce Back®: Helps adults who are experiencing symptoms of mild to moderate depression, low mood, or stress, with or without anxiety. Provided by the Canadian Mental Health Association.
• Heads Up Guys: Provides information, tips, and advice to support men in their fight against depression.
• HeretoHelp: Provides information related to mental health and substance use. The website includes personal stories, self-help resources, and information about getting help now.
• Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre: Provides mental health and substance use information, resources, and peer support to children, youth and their families from across B.C.
• mindcheck.ca - mood and anxiety: Helps young people identify and understand the mental distress they may be experiencing and to link them to the skills and strategies they need to manage these problems.
• MindHealthBC: Provides easy access to information and resources related to mental health and substance use conditions.
• My Anxiety Plan: Provides free anxiety management programs based on cognitive-behavioral therapy, an evidence-based psychological treatment. Programs are available for children and teens, and for adults.
• Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support: Launched by the Federal Government, Wellness Together Canada provides free online resources, tools, apps, and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals when needed. There is also self-assessment followed by referral to self-led resources, as well as phone/text support lines available to adults and youth. Kids Help Phone manages the youth line.

Email Services

• BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information: For help and support via email at [email protected]. Let them know where you're writing from so they can provide community specific information. A volunteer will email you back within 3 business days.
• Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre: Get information and support about mental health and substance use challenges via email at [email protected].
• Youthspace.ca E-Counselling: Email a youth counsellor for support with a variety of issues including: social life, family conflict, school and work challenges, addictions, violence and abuse, mental health, and more. You can expect a response within 5 business days.

​
Chat Services

• Crisis Centre Online Chat: Get support, information and resources for adults in B.C. and Yukon. Online chat is available from noon to 1am Pacific Time.
• Kids Help Phone - Live Chat: Chat counselling lets you connect one-on-one, real time, with a Kids Help Phone counsellor, on the web or from a smartphone. Chats are for youth up to age 20. Available Wednesday to Sunday from 3pm to 11pm Pacific Time.
• YouthinBC Online Chat: Get support, information and resources for youth in B.C. and Yukon. Online chat is available from noon to 1am Pacific Time.
• Youthspace.ca Online Chat: A community of volunteers who can provide emotional support, crisis response, and more. Available 6pm to midnight Pacific Time. Also available by text at 778-783-0177.