Use the Anonymous Question Box link on the left to Ask Us Anything about mental health resources, at any time.
You can ask anything about mental health resources: phone numbers, links, classes, etc. You can send your ideas, or just check in and say hello! We will answer your question or we can start a chat. We will have no idea who you are, it’s completely anonymous.
Since we are based in Kelowna, BC, many of the following resources are local where indicated, but most are available across Canada or free online for everyone:
Find Help: Phone Numbers to Call:
Call 988 – Canadian mental health crisis and suicide prevention line
Currently, people in Canada who are experiencing mental health distress can obtain assistance through Talk Suicide Canada by dialing toll-free 1-833-456-4566. Residents of Quebec are encouraged to call 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553).
Assistance is also available through text. Adults can text 741741 and youth can text 686868. Quebec residents can text 1-855-957-5353. Talk Suicide Canada’s text service is available in the evenings from 4:00 p.m. to midnight EST by texting 45645.
Call 911 – go to the nearest emergency room or follow the emergency instructions provided by your doctor, mental health professional or care team. If your community has a mental health care, you can call 911 to request it.
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) for help right away, any time of day or night. It’s a free call.
Interior Crisis Line 1-888-353-2273 24 hours a day to connect to a BC crisis line, without a wait or busy signal. The crisis line operators have received advanced training in mental health issues and services by members of the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information.
310 Mental Health (310-6789) for emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health.
Seniors’ Distress Line 604-872-1234 free confidential support for seniors, their cargivers or anyone concerned about a senior. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Indigenous People: Adults & elders 250 723 4050, children & youth 250 723 2040 24 crisis line from the KUU-US Crisis Line Society. www.kuu-uscrisisline.ca for more information
Kelowna Community Response Team (CRT) 250-212-8533 Operates 11:30am-9:00pm 7 days a week.
Kid’s Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868 24 hours a day for children and youth aged 5 to 20 to speak to a professional counsellor. It’s free, confidential, anonymous and available across Canada. They can also refer you to local services and resources. Kid’s Help Phone is available in English and French.
In a non-emergency:
bc211 or call 211 – During the COVID19 crisis, seniors (65+) needing assistance and volunteers prepared to help may register by calling or visiting the website. Plus, anyone looking for non-medical community and social services information and referrals can use the system for free 24/7, 7 days a week. Multiple languages available.
Your Family Doctor: Your doctor can connect you with many community resources and can be a good place to start.
Crisis Lines: crisis lines aren’t only for people in crisis. You can call for information on local services or if you just need someone to talk to. See the numbers in the previous section.
Foundry Kelowna: for youth aged 12- 24 and their families, 100-1815 Kirschner Road, currently by appointment only please call 236-420-2803. For online resources go to: www.foundrybc.ca
BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information: visit www.heretohelp.bc.ca for the Mental Disorder Toolkit, more fact sheets and personal stories about mental disorders. The Toolkit is full of information, including templates for creating your action plan and tips for avoiding crisis and emergencies.
Mental Health and Substance Use Services: 505 Doyle Avenue, Kelowna, BC: 250-469-7070 (during office hours).
Resources available in many languages:
For each service below, if English is not your first language, say the name of your preferred language in English to be connected to an interpreter. More than 100 languages are available.
BounceBack a self-management course for people who experience low to moderate depression or anxiety. It’s offered in two different formats: you can complete the course online on your own or work with a coach who can help motivate you, solve problems, and work through the materials
HealthLink BC or call 811 to access free, non-emergency health information for anyone in your family, including mental health information. Through 811, you can also speak to a registered nurse about symptoms you’re worried about, or a pharmacist about medication questions.
BC Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service 1-800-663-1441 to talk to someone about substance use. They can also connect you with local substance use resources. It’s available 24 hours a day.
FOR ALL: Connect with someone who can help:
Worksafe BC – You don’t need a WorkSafeBC claim to call us for help. Crisis support line: Call us if you or your family is in emotional crisis.
Phone toll-free (Canada): 1.800.624.2928 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Critical incident response: Contact us for assistance if you’ve witnessed a traumatic workplace incident: Phone (toll-free answering service) (B.C. and Alberta): 1.888.922.3700 7 days a week 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna: https://cmhakelowna.com/
FREE Virtual Counselling Services: https://cmhakelowna.com/programs-and-services/virtual-counselling/
Bounceback Program: workbooks, activities, videos, access to trained coaches: https://bouncebackbc.ca/what-is-bounceback/
Here To Help British Columbia: http://heretohelp.bc.ca
For First Responders/Frontline/Military:
Royal Canadian Legion: http://www.legion.ca
Canadian PTSD Association: http://www.ptsdassociation.com/
CMHA Information on PTSD: https://bhn.cmha.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ptsd-ntnl-brochure-2014-web.pdf
Responder Alliance: https://www.responderalliance.com/responder-resources
Clinician Directory (British Columbia and Alberta): https://firstresponderhealth.org/first-responders – Clinician Directory
British Columbia First Responder’s Mental Health: https://bcfirstrespondersmentalhealth.com/
Boots on the Ground: https://www.bootsontheground.ca/ – Ontario organization, but great links for anyone under Resources
ThriveLife Counselling Services (British Columbia): Beating the Breaking Point – Managing Triggers
Canadian Psychological Association – List of Psychologists offering free services to frontline healthcare workers: https://cpa.ca/corona-virus/psychservices/
DanSun Photo Art: https://www.dansunphotos.com
CMHA and Canadian Legion: Operational Stress Injury & PTSD Info: https://5dd30e27-19ec-408a-9a9d-4a123dd0821a.filesusr.com/ugd/24a624_38468645aa9f442091f9d7ec1aa397bc.pdf
Centre for Suicide Prevention:
First Responders Info PDF: https://5dd30e27-19ec-408a-9a9d-4a123dd0821a.filesusr.com/ugd/24a624_141a25c26fb64f9db47c1b81adb2533b.pdf
Military Info PDF: https://5dd30e27-19ec-408a-9a9d-4a123dd0821a.filesusr.com/ugd/24a624_ba8c4322448f4def9fca14b5b6c0c3bf.pdf
For Teachers/Students/Youth:
Trauma Awareness in Schools – For Educators: https://traumaawareschools.org/pfa
Kelowna Community Resources: http://ocsu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Kelowna-Community.pdf
Foundry BC virtual online appointments: https://foundrybc.ca/virtual/ Virtual drop-in counselling sessions, peer support check-ins and group offerings to young people ages 12-24 and their caregivers. To book an appointment with our service providers or learn more about our services please call 1-833-FØUNDRY (that’s FØUNDRY with a zero or 1-833-308-6379) between 1:15 to 9 pm Monday to Friday. You can send us an email at online@foundrybc.ca or register online to book an appointment at any time!
From Surviving to Thriving: https://wsmh-cms.mediresource.com/wsmh/assets/ijq4md4roxwkgck0 A workbook that can help in developing personal and academic resilience
Here 2 Talk: https://here2talk.ca/home connects students with mental health support when they need it. Through this program, all students currently registered in a B.C. post-secondary institution have access to free, confidential counselling and community referral services, conveniently available 24/7 via app, phone and web.
UBCO Counselling & Mental Health Resources:
https://students.ok.ubc.ca/health-wellness/counselling-mental-health/
