COVID-19 Resources
Free Mental Health Resources
Free Online Course - Resilience in a Time of Uncertainty
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Coursera is an incredible resource offering free courses from universities.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a 13-hour course on resilience in a time of uncertainty. As well as building your own resiliency, throughout the course you will hear examples of individuals using resilience skills in their personal and professional lives. You can begin at any time, and decide yourself on the pace of the course. |
Free Counselling
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CAMPAIGN:
Supporting our Mental Health during COVID – #WIRTHStayingIn Initiative ~ Offering free online counselling for those who need and can’t afford ~ Over the next month, if you’re an individual who needs support but can’t afford counselling, please get in touch with WIRTH and we will do our best to support you with one month of free online counselling. Simply visit wirthhats.com/counsellingprogram |
Online Live Depression Support for Men
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When: Every Thursday
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 pm Where: Online via Zoom Cost: Free A survey by Men's Health Research reveals that 1 in 2 Canadians know a man with depression. Yet stigma and barriers are still keeping men from reaching out and seeking help with their mental health. Men Let’s Talk is an online drop-in group providing support for male-identified people and a safe space to discuss mental health & wellness. This is an online drop-in group providing support for male-identified people and a safe space to discuss mental health & wellness. Participants can also access one-on-one support from the group facilitator and Peer Supporter, Ty Javos. Contact Ty with questions, and to register and receive the Zoom link: ty.javos@cmha.bc.ca / (604) 987-6959 |
Free Mental Health Support
The BC Covid-19 Mental Health Network is a group of counselling professionals located throughout British Columbia who joined together to offer free mental health support as the Covid-19 pandemic began to unfold in Canada. In particular, we felt compelled to address the needs of people coping with sudden and increased levels of distress and who may not currently have the financial means to pay for counselling support.
As we developed this initiative, we aimed to create a platform where volunteer counsellors could connect with BC residents struggling with the myriad effects of the Covid-19 outbreak on their lives. The email account bccovidtherapists@gmail.com serves as the first point of contact between the public and the volunteer counsellors. Once that initial contact is established, the counsellor connects and works with the person utilizing their own professional means of communication as they would with any client. It is then left to the discretion of the counsellor to establish the duration of the support. We wanted to allow enough flexibility in the system so that each practitioner would have the ability to work using their particular style of therapy. This allows each counsellor to assess and address the unique circumstances of each client and to provide a suitable time frame for support.
We collectively established that any counsellor volunteering with the initiative must be a registered member in good standing with a professional association and have applicable professional liability insurance in place. These include counsellors and therapists with designations such as: RCC, RTC, CCC and potentially others. Associations where counsellors are registered include: BCACC, ACCT, CCPA, and possibly others.
Our hope is that with a little extra support and connection we can help mitigate some of the adverse mental health effects that some people may currently be experiencing.
As we developed this initiative, we aimed to create a platform where volunteer counsellors could connect with BC residents struggling with the myriad effects of the Covid-19 outbreak on their lives. The email account bccovidtherapists@gmail.com serves as the first point of contact between the public and the volunteer counsellors. Once that initial contact is established, the counsellor connects and works with the person utilizing their own professional means of communication as they would with any client. It is then left to the discretion of the counsellor to establish the duration of the support. We wanted to allow enough flexibility in the system so that each practitioner would have the ability to work using their particular style of therapy. This allows each counsellor to assess and address the unique circumstances of each client and to provide a suitable time frame for support.
We collectively established that any counsellor volunteering with the initiative must be a registered member in good standing with a professional association and have applicable professional liability insurance in place. These include counsellors and therapists with designations such as: RCC, RTC, CCC and potentially others. Associations where counsellors are registered include: BCACC, ACCT, CCPA, and possibly others.
Our hope is that with a little extra support and connection we can help mitigate some of the adverse mental health effects that some people may currently be experiencing.
Free Phone Support
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Please feel free to share with your colleagues, family, friends, employer, etc.
Our fully insured, fully supervised counselling interns are available to provide free, temporary telephone support to anyone in BC who may be struggling emotionally while in self-isolation. While typically our preference is for clients to come to our offices, we recognize that during this pandemic that this is not possible. Languages: English, Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Farsi, Hindi, Punjabi, Tagalog Anyone wanting this service can call and leave a message, requesting telephone support, at 778-321-3054 or by email at counsellor@movingforwardfamilyservices.com The initial session would consist of an intake; this intake would then go to our supervisor for review, who would then match the client up with an intern counsellor. Phone sessions may be offered once or twice a week, for up to three weeks, with the possibility of extension (in consultation with supervisor). Note: these are counselling/support sessions, and are not intended for clients who are in crisis. Clients in crisis should continue to contact Crisis Centres. Sincerely, Gary Thandi, MSW RSW Moving Forward Family Services 778-321-3054 mffs.ca -- Moving Forward Family Services 778-321-3054 mffs.ca |
Crisis Lines and/or Chat |
Special Programming
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SPECIAL PROGRAMMING DURING THE CURRENT HEALTH SITUATIONThe Crisis Centre values the importance of community, connection and support during this current health situation. To support our mental health and wellbeing, we are expanding our mindfulness-based programs online for youth and adults.
These courses provide resources and strategies to help us through these challenging and changing times. Please connect with us to discuss options, trainings or courses for your organization. Contact info[at]crisiscentre.bc.ca. If you are in crisis, distress, or having thoughts of suicide, help is available! We are here to listen, here to help – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE), or call your local crisis centre. Online Suicide Prevention Tools for Managing Stress and Burnout: 6-Week Online (Adults) Tools for Managing Uncertainty and Change: Free Online (Youth) Contact us: Anywhere in BC 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433 Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 Vancouver Coastal Regional Distress Line: 604-872-3311 Sunshine Coast/Sea to Sky: 1-866-661-3311 Online Chat Service for Youth: www.YouthInBC.com (Noon to 1am) Online Chat Service for Adults: www.CrisisCentreChat.ca (Noon to 1am) |
Resource Hub Crisis Centre of BC
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If you are experiencing distress, please call your local crisis centre.
Given the ever-changing events around the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all experiencing varying degrees of a normal reaction to an abnormal event. While we are not a mental health services provider, and we regrettably cannot respond to requests from individuals or clinicians, we can offer curated, evidence-based information that you can trust. In times of high anxiety and stress, it’s more important than ever to safeguard your mental wellness. That includes stemming the tide of non-essential information and paring down your news consumption. At the Mental Health Commission of Canada, our commitment is to share credible information and resources about maintaining mental health during this time of crisis, and supporting people managing a mental illness in this new context. For up-to-date information about Canada’s COVID-19 response, please visit the Government of Canada website |