MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
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Talk Suicide Canada (Suicide Crisis Helpline)
This is the national network of distress, crisis and suicide prevention. Anyone in Canada that is thinking about, is or has been affected by suicide can reach out and feel supported.
Call 988 (Free across Canada no matter your phone plan, available 24hrs day, 7 days a week, every day of the year)
Text 988 (English or French only, 4 PM—12 AM ET for texts, might have fees depending on your phone plan and service provider if you have a limit on your texts.)
Other Details:
- Available for Canada only (does not matter about residency status as long as located in Canada. International callers can call if getting help for someone who is located in Canada)
- Translation services available for huge range of languages. Request translater and one will be patched in (don't need to call back)
- People hard of hearing have the option to text
Process when you call:
1. You will choose English or French.
2. You will hear general hold music until the next available responder answers. It could be immediate or up to 20 minutes depending on the call volume. (When I called it was 4 minutes). If you are placed on hold for a short time, please stay on the line — they will answer your call.
3. The person who answers is trained, and will work with you to assess your safety and help you safety plan. They will listen with compassion and without judgement, and give you space to talk. They will engage with empathy. Whatever you are going through, they want to understand and provide you with support.
4. If you have a preference on gender (ie. want to speak to someone female identifying) then you need to call back. They cannot route the call to a different responder.
*if something ever came up that didnt feel good - go to website for complaints
Process when you text:
1. You will be asked if you want to text in English or French
2. You will be asked a few short questions about how you are feeling so they can better support you
3. You will then connect to a crisis responder
About their responders:
They are all trained in suicide prevention. This means that if you are having thoughts of suicide or you are worried about someone else, the person you speak to will have had specific training in how to support you. Talk Suicide crisis responders are based around the country - the first available responder will answer your call. Wherever possible, we will connect you to someone who is in your part of Canada. Whoever you connect to, they will have had the training they need to support you and will be there to help and listen. More than 80% of people who have called Talk Suicide felt an increase in their ability to cope. Their crisis responders are caring people who are committed to doing their best to provide meaningful help.
Will they call 911?
In the vast majority of calls, the police (or any authority) will not be involved. Their goal is to make sure everyone who reaches out stays safe. They will only call emergency services if you are expressing a strong desire to take your own life, you are in the process of ending your life, or that you may do so in the very near future. The most important thing to remember is this only happens in a very small number of cases. If you are calling about yourself and you need emergency help, the responder will make every effort to support you and help get you to a safe place. They will try other options for safety planning before contacting emergency services.
If you’re thinking about reaching out for help but you’re unsure because you’re worried about emergency services being involved, please call or text them — they can talk it through with you. Your safety and feeling supported is their #1 priority.
Free counselling for adults & youth. Support for during crisis & you also don’t have to be going through any specific problems in order to call the counselling lines. Whatever’s on your mind, they are there for you.
Contact Number Adults (18+): Call 1-866-585-0445
Contact Number Youth: 1-888-668-6810
Text: WELLNESS to 686868 for youth or 741741 for adults
Process when you call:
1. They will do an intake, and then they will transfer you to counsellor. If none are available at that exact time they will call you back.
Note: If have a preference, for example, to have a counsellor who specializes in Neurodivergence, LGBTQ+, Trauma etc then you can request this and they will match you with right counsellor for you and book in a call for later with that specific counsellor. You can book in multiple sessions with same counsellor, you will need to specify that. You can have 4 sessions with that specific counsellor.
If you're calling the main line for support, you can have a max 20 free sessions per year. They ask that you wait one week after having a session (although if having a really hard time just give them a call anyway and they would try to help out)
Other Details:
- Available for Canada only (does not matter about residency status as long as located in Canada)
- 24/7 every day of the year
- English speaking will be transferred to counsellor after intake.
- French speaking will be transferred to their French department. If no one is available when you call in then they will send a counsellor an email with callback request. The delay can often be 24 hours.
- Other Languages: There is a translation service available for you, or if you have someone in your life who doesn’t speak english or would like support in their first language. Call in and request translator for the language you speak. They will transfer you to a counsellor and the counsellor will access a translator to do intake and book an appointment to call you back.
- If deaf or hearing difficulties, you can text counsellor for support.
Hope For Wellness Indigenous Helpline (Canada wide)
Call for mental health support and finding resources.
Contact Number 1-855-242-3310 (Available 24/7)
Process
- Call the number above and you will heard a recorded message letting you know you're in the right place. It will ask you to select English or French
- You will be placed on hold for a short time until the next responder answers
- Ask for the langauge you need (English, French, Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut)
- They will ask you how they can help and give free counselling, support, referrals and anything that you need
Other Details
- Canada wide, they will not ask for proof of residing in Canada
- this is for Indigenous peoples to receive counselling and support
- every responder is a trained psychologist, social worker or counsellor
- you can request to speak to someone specialised in 2SLGBTQ+, addiction, trauma and if someone in their office is available they will connect you to the best person for you
- there is no limit to how long you can be on the phone. They have some people who call daily for someone to talk to and support.
- they have 24/7 chat available on the bottom right of their website. This is an option that people who are hard of hearing use for support.
Exclusively for young Albertans aged 12-25 and their parents or caregivers. Appointments are available for any reason – no problem or question is too big or small. You can even make an appointment to check out how it works and what they offer.
Click here to book your first appointment
Other Details:
- Kickstand Connect offers free mental health and substance use counselling, peer support, employment services and you can register for free workshops and support groups.
- It is a free online portal and mobile app where young people can access virtually both same-day and pre-booked appointments (up to a week in advance). You can book for a single session. Sessions are available on: Mondays (1 to 9 PM), Wednesdays (5 to 9 PM), Thursdays (1 to 9pm) - excluding statutory holidays.
- You are NOT required to have a healthcare card, referral, or any form of payment.
- Services available include Mental Health and/or Substance Use Counselling, Peer Support for young people, Employment Services, Groups and Workshops, and more coming.
- They have experience working with young people from all walks of life including BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ youth
Short Term Counselling with the same therapist:
- helpful if you would like regularly scheduled appointments with the same therapist to help you deal with a tough situation, learn new coping skills, or work toward your personal goals. Short-term counselling will include an intake and assessment appointment and 3-4 scheduled appointments with a therapist.
- To do this, make an appointment with a peer support worker or mental health counselor and let them know you are interested in short-term counselling. Someone from Kickstand Connect will reach out by email to set-up a “Choice Appointment”. Here you will fill out some questionnaires about your mental health and overall health, plus share your goals for short-term counselling. Then, you will get to share your preference for which therapist you’d like to work with! Your assigned therapist will reach out by e-mail to schedule your first short-term appointment.
Mental Health Helpline (Alberta)
Call for support and to get help finding local services and resources.
Contact Number 1-877-303-2642 (available 24/7)
Other Details:
- They will do a brief assessment and then give you resources and recommendations to Mental Health Support and Services in your area.
- Every responder is a fully trained psychologist or social worker. They are all sensitivity trained. If you have a preference on gender (ie. want to speak to someone female identifying) then you need to call back. They cannot route the call to a different responder.
- They have translation services available for many languages.
Indigenous Mental Health & Support Line (Alberta)
Call for support and to get help finding local services and resources.
Contact Number 1 844 944 4744 (Available Monday to Friday from Noon-8pm MT)
Languages available with interpretive services: Algonquian, Blackfoot, Chipewyan, Cree James Bay, Cree Moose, Cree Plains, Cree Swampy, Cree Woodlands, Dakota, Dene, Dogrib, Inuinnaqtun Inuktitut, Michif, Micmac, Mohawk, North Slavey, Ojibway, Oji-Cree, Salish, Salteaux, Slavey, Slavey South, Tsilhqotin
Process:
- Call the number and you will first here a recorded message indicating you're in the right place. You will then be put on a brief hold while they connect you to the next available trained Mental Health Therapist (everyone who works this line is Indigenous)
- They will ask you how they can help, and take the call in whichever direction you need to provide support & advocacy
Other Details:
- Their role is to provide support & advocacy. They are all trained and so can talk through challenges and mental health concerns, however they will also link up other professionals and support (and stay on the line with you). They handle concerns, cultural support, primary care support, addiction support, mental health support, general indigenous Alberta Health Services (AHS) support, and more.
- They are a department within AHS Health Link
- They do call backs as well, and stay with a patient to ensure they receive what they need. The agent I spoke to mentioned a few cases that they had been assisting with for months. They are devoted to staying by your side and seeing it through to ensure you get the support you need.
Banff & Canmore Free Walk-in Counselling
- No appointment is needed between 2 - 9 pm daily
- Banff Mineral Springs Hospital (305 Lynx Street)
- Canmore General Hospital (1100 Hospital Place)
Other Details *coming soon
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