Support services
The change and uncertainty due to COVID-19 can have a big impact on our mental health. Taking care of ourselves is especially important during this difficult time, when stress might be higher than usual. Help is available. Find information below about who you can contact for support during COVID-19.
- Wellbeing is a website to help people navigate and connect with mental health and substance use information and supports. The website provides information for children or youth, adults, parent or caregivers, seniors, Indigenous persons, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, people who use drugs, service providers and post-secondary students.
Learn more at wellbeing.gov.bc.ca.
- There are many
supports available in B.C. for anxiety and depression. Services are available over the phone, in-person, and online.
- Free or
low-cost counselling is available virtually, such as through
Wellness Together Canada. Courses and programs to support mental well-being are also available online.
-
Substance use services are available. Call 1-800-663-1441 (toll free in BC) for substance use resources and referrals.
- The Canadian Mental Health Association has
COVID-19 specific mental health information and supports.
- They offer a
free self-assessment that helps you reflect on your overall well-being. It helps to find the resources most useful to you.
- Provides free programs such as
BounceBack®, designed to help manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry.
How your child(ren) responds to stressful events will depend on:
- their age
- personality
- level of development,
- how closely the event touches them in terms of people they may know and love.
You can positively support your child's mental health by:
- correcting misinformation that they may have heard
- limiting how often they watch or hear the news, if appropriate
- creating a flexible but consistent daily routine with your child's input
- listening to your child's concerns, then acknowledging and validating their thoughts and feelings
- explaining health and safety measures and reassuring your child that they're in place to keep us safe
- helping your child stay virtually connected with their friends, neighbours and extended family members.
Mental health services and supports for children and youth:
-
Foundry BC offers in-person and virtual support for youth including peer support, mental well-being programs and groups. They have recently introduced virtual drop-in counselling.
-
Child & Youth Mental Health (CYMH): Mental health assessment and treatment services (ages 18 and younger), including for anxiety and low mood.
-
Kids Help Phone offers COVID-19 specific mental health supports for young people. They also have 24/7 confidential support lines (call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868).
Mental health resources for families and caregivers:
Here2Talk is a 24/7 mental-health counselling and referral service for post-secondary students.
- Students can engage in chat sessions with a trained counsellor. Download the Here2Talk app or visit here2talk.ca
- They can also speak to a counsellor by phone, toll-free at 1-877-857-3397 or direct at 604-642-5212.
The YMCA has mental health programs and supports.
- Y Mind Youth: a free mental wellness program for youth (ages 18-30) experiencing anxiety.
- Y Well: an online video series of self-care tools to keep your mind healthy and strong during COVID-19.
- Care for caregivers: Information and workshops to support healthcare worker mental health.
- Care to Speak: Peer support for BC healthcare workers. Available in online chat or phone (call 1-866-802-7337)
- The Mobile Response Team: Support the mental well-being of frontline healthcare workers. Available 24/7. Call 1-888-686-3022 (a 24/7 phone line for healthcare workers) or e-mail MRT@phsa.ca.