Mental Health Support in BC
To assist all British Columbians in connecting with support, the Province has expanded mental health programs and has provided a list of mental health resources. Click here for details.
Phone, Online, & Email Counselling Support
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
Call or text 9-8-8 to get help if you’re in crisis, if you’re worried about yourself, if you’re worried about someone else.
Visit 988.ca for more information.
Crisis Centre 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
Here to Listen. Here to help. The Distress Line provides confidential, non-judgmental, free emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including feelings which may lead to suicide.
The Crisis Centre also operates a live chat service for youth from noon to 1:00am each day. The service offers support, information, and resources. Here is the link for the chat service: Youth in BC
Foundry
Foundry offers young people ages 12-24 health and wellness resources, services and supports – online and through integrated service centres in eight communities across BC.
Foundry now offers access to virtual mental health services through the Foundry BC app or their Virtual Foundry website.
Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868
- Support via phone, chat, or text
- Find resources in your area with the “Resources Around Me” feature of the website.
- For ages 20 & under
- Free, 24/7
- Anonymous & Confidential
- Non-judgmental
Pacific Centre Family Services Association
Free counselling by email.
Pacific Centre offers free email counseling to youth for issues including: anger management, relationships, family concerns, school challenges, alcohol & drug misuse, grief & loss, depression, etc. Email anytime (youthtalk2@pcfsa.org) for support and/or to find out about local youth services. A counsellor will reply within 3-5 working days.
Vancouver Island Crisis Line 1-888-494-3888
- 24-hour crisis & information line: 1-888-494-3888
- Crisis Text 6:00pm to 10:00pm every day: 250-800-3806
- Crisis Chat
- Chat live online with trained helpers, 6pm to midnight.
- Get email help from youth counsellors
Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety Canada
Anxiety Canada provides a rich resource of self-help information and programs, as well as resources for parents and caregivers. The mission of Anxiety Canada is to increase awareness, promote education and improve access to programs that work.
Healthy Minds
Healthy Minds is a FREE app. Life as a student can be stressful – assignments, part-time jobs, sports, clubs, relationships, family responsibilities. In fact, during your years as a student, you will face some of the most intense pressures of any point in your life. Stress can take a toll on your mind, weighing you down and even making you ill, so it’s important to take action to stay healthy. That’s what HealthyMinds is all about. HealthyMinds is a problem-solving tool to help deal with emotions and cope with the stresses you encounter both on and off campus. The goal: Keeping your mind healthy.
Mindshift
Mindshift is a FREE evidence-based anxiety relief app. Is anxiety getting in the way of your life? MindShift™ CBT uses scientifically proven strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use active steps to take charge of your anxiety.
Get the tools to tackle:
- Worry
- Panic
- Perfectionism
- Social Anxiety
- Phobias
Bullying
Responding to Bullying
Your first and best option is always to let responsible adults know that you are, or someone you know is, being bullied.
ERASE = Expect Respect & a Safe Education
ERASE is all about building safe and caring school communities . This includes empowering students, parents, educators and the community partners who support them to get help with challenges, report concerns to schools, and learn about complex issues facing students.
Visit the ERASE site for information and resources for students and parents regarding:
- online safety
- mental health
- bullying & violence
- substance use
- sexual orientation & gender identity
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders – Island Health
This Island Health website provides information and resources regarding disordered eating.
Separation / Divorce
Families Change
If your parents have recently separated or divorced (or you think they may be about to), or you have a friend in that situation, this site is for you. Parental separation and divorce are hard on teens. One thing that can help is information about what separation and divorce mean in Canada, and how they might affect you. The purpose of this site is to provide you with that information. The site is not intended to provide therapy, support or legal advice.
Suicide Prevention
Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Parents & Caregivers
This toolkit was created to help parents and caregivers reach out to children and youth who may be at risk for suicide throughout Southern Vancouver Island. The toolkit provides an outline of resources, some steps you can take, warning signs to be aware of, and compassionate questions to ask a child or youth who may be considering suicide.
Substance Use
Youth Drug Prevention (a BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions resource)
Street drugs have become more poisonous, more unpredictable, and more deadly. They are hurting and killing our loved ones. Prescription medications can also be very harmful if misused or if they get into the wrong hands. Drugs are the leading cause of unnatural death of youth aged 10–18. This website is a resource for both youth and parents/guardians.
QuitNow.ca
Interested in cutting down on vaping? Or ready to quit entirely. QuitNow.ca offers helpful information regarding addiction, coping skills, mental health, and a step-by-step guide to ditching your vape.
Other Mental Health Information & Resources
Child & Youth Mental Health: Mental Health & Wellness Resources and Supports
This digital brochure was made for youth and/or parents and highlights some information, supports, and resources to help you on your journey.
HereToHelp – Mental Health & Substance Use Information You Can Trust
This site includes information on a variety of mental health topics, including body image, substance use, trauma, anxiety, depression, etc.
One good resource on the site related to substance use is this workbook: You & Substance Use… Stuff to Think About and Ways to Make Changes
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
The Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre is designed to support BC children, youth and their families to find and use the resources they need in order to make informed decisions and gain access to appropriate services. The Centre, located at Children’s Hospital in Vancouver but accessible from anywhere in the province, is a free, actual and virtual resource for all BC families.
The Centre offers information and resources on a wide range of mental health and substance use issues affecting children and youth in our province. These include, but are not limited to; depression, anxiety, attention deficit and behavioural problems, child/youth eating disorders and substance use.
Mental Health Literacy
MentalHealthLiteracy.org uses the best scientific evidence available to develop training programs, publications, tools & resources that enhance the understanding of adolescent mental health and mental disorders. This site offers information for teens, parents, and educators.
Sexual Health
- STI and pregnancy
- relationships
- sexuality
- birth control
- how to talk to an adult
- and more!
SexAndU.ca
This site provides credible and up-to-date information on sexual health.
Information on Community, Government, & Social Services
BC 211 is a nonprofit organization that specializes in providing information and referral regarding community, government and social services in BC.
Contact by phone… Call 211 for free information and referral to a full range of community, social, and government services. The phone line operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Visit the BC 211 website for information and referrals for issues including:
- emergency and crisis resources
- addiction
- counselling
- health care
- mental health
- victim services
- employment / training
- financial assistance
- food and basic goods
- homelessness
- housing
- legal and advocacy
- transportation
- Indigenous / Aboriginal
- children and families
- disabilities
- immigrants and refugees
- older adults
- youth
Community Resource Directory
The Community Resource Directory was produced by Island Sexual Health and is designed to assist you in locating community resources. This Directory lists organizations that provide support in addressing needs such as advocacy, food accessibility, housing, employment, community connection, and more.
Please follow the links below to be redirected to the Google Document: