Free Mental Health Resources
PHSA Wellness Exchange
The Wellness Exchange is a free skill-building group curriculum that helps people identify and prioritize their needs and apply practical strategies to cope with stress and anxiety, while promoting positive mental health and well-being. Sessions are open to anyone in BC, and everyone is welcome.
These free workshops are being offered by Provincial Psychosocial Services , a program within the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). Designed to build skills in five different areas:
Details:
Current Sessions:
If you have any questions, please contact Meg at Meg.Signorelli@phsa.ca. |
Live Well DBT Program
Gill Walker and Andrea Harowitz are offering 3 bursary spots for their 24 week DBT Skills Group.
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Pet Therapy - Recovery College YVR
Come spend some time with the sweet four-legged friends (dogs), give some pets, or take a short walk if the weather permits.
Interacting with animals has been shown to have a wide range of benefits. The physical benefits include decreasing levels of the stress-related hormone (cortisol) and lowering blood pressure. Per therapy can also reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness, as well as increase feelings of social support and boost one's mood. Dates and Times: Wednesdays, 2:30 - 3:00 pm Location: Kelty Dennehy Mental Health Resource Centre, located at 1337 St Andrews Ave, North Vancouver, BC Hosted by Recovery College YVR. |
Communication & Group Facilitation, Skill Building and Training Course
The next Communication & Group Facilitation Workshop Series will begin January 9, 2024.
Topics include:
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Recovering From Trauma
Recovering From Trauma is a 10-week expressive arts therapy program focused on treating trauma symptoms. Artistic expression can help individuals express their inner thoughts, while helping them better understand their experiences, emotions, and mental health.
Dates: Check back for future dates Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am Location: Telfer Burke Room at The HOpe Centre 1337 St. Andrews Ave., North Vancouver For registration and intake, please email hello@thewoods.org |
Coping With Uncertainty Workshop
Feeling stressed by the news of the day?
Join others to explore strategies to help cope with uncertainty and manage stress. Led by peer facilitators and developed during the pandemic, this 4-session course looks at stress, worry and anxiety, and common thinking traps that can affect our mental wellbeing. This course also includes a workbook with many additional tools. Upcoming Sessions:
Register for free online! |
Mindfulness Meditation & Movement
Enjoy a weekly mindful movement and meditation class focused on positive energy, raising your endorphins, and increasing a sense of well-being. The class is rooted in Kundalini yoga tradition.
Dates and Times: Tuesdays, 2:00 - 3:00 pm Location: Sacred Space Room at The HOpe Centre 231 East 15th St., North Vancouver Cost: Free registration Contact Information: Email: info@recoverycollegeyvr.com Phone: 778-836-9243 |
Your Recovery Journey - Workshop
Your Recovery Journey is a free workshop focusing on mental illness and recovery. The program provides valuable information that helps individuals on their recovery journey to reconnect, accomplish their goals, and recapture meaning in life. It is peer support based and facilitated by the VCH Peer Led Workshop Program at Recovery College YVR.
Session topics:
Upcoming Your Recovery Journey Sessions: *Check back for session offerings* Phone: 778-836-9243 Email: info@recoverycollegeyvr.ca |
Talking With Your Doctor: Workshop
Peer facilitators lead this 1.5 hour interactive workshop to empower patients to be active participants in their health care.
Learn how to:
Upcoming Sessions:
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Y Mind Programs
YMCA BC offers free mental wellness programs designed to help participants learn how to manage stress and mild-to-moderate anxiety. They use evidence-based methods, and teach Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness.
Current Programs:
Contact Information: Phone: 604-673-6170 Email: ymind@bc.ymca.ca Link to Y Mind Inquiry Form |
OCD Workshops/Supports
Virtual Adult Wellness Groups
OCD Adult Wellness Group “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder” Facilitated by a Clinical Counsellor Dates: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Location: Online through Zoom British Columbia Residents Only For adults with OCD tendencies and family/friends supporting someone with OCD ***Screening Interview Required*** OCD Young Adult Group “Healing is not Linear” Run by young adult volunteers with lived experience Date: 4th Tuesday of every month Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Location: Online through Zoom British Columbia Residents Only. 19-30 years old ***Clinically Supervised – Screening Interview Required*** |
Free or Inexpensive Mental Health Services: MindMapBC
Supporting Men's Mental Health - Beyond "Man Up"
In a culture that encourages them to “man up”, men may feel vulnerable admitting they struggle with mental health at all. From an early age, society has told men that showing emotion is a sign of weakness. As mentioned on Centre for Suicide’s Preventions Buddy Up website, toughness and stoicism are expected; emotional vulnerability is seen as a blemish on their manhood.
Three ways you can help support the men in your life’s mental health:
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Voices & Visions Support Groups
Are you feeling alone or unsure about your unique sensory experiences? Do you want to meet people who understand? Our Voices & Visions support groups are led by peers who have experienced unique sensory experiences themselves.
Upcoming Dates:
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Educational Courses and Workshops - Community Mental Health
Gordon Neighbourhood House provides ongoing psycho-educational courses for community members wanting to learn more about how to proactively manage their mental wellness.
Courses Include:
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Youth Culture and Psychosis Survey
The Early Psychosis Peer Recovery Network (EPPRN) research committee, in partnership with the University of British Columbia, is conducting a survey to better understand psychosis in the context of young people’s lives, including their culture, communities and relationships. This survey is open to young people of all backgrounds and identities who:
For more information, please contact the Study Lead, Shelly Ben-David shelly.ben-david@ubc.ca, or the Study Coordinator, Melissa Campos melissa.campos@ubc.ca. |
Social Anxiety Virtual Workshop
Join Instructors Charles di Cagno and Kyra Smith, former Phobia Therapists at the White Plains Hospital Phobia Clinic, at a free introductory session focused on social anxiety. They employ the clinic's unique approach to vastly expanding your zone of comfort.
Techniques include interpersonal and small group interaction with gradual reduction of anxiety in manageable steps, resulting in more skill and confidence in all areas of life. Various dates are available! Note: There is a charge for subsequent sessions. |
Free Online Course - Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills
Coursera is an incredible resource offering free courses from universities. It currently offers a 15 hour course on resilience in a time of uncertainty.
As well as building your own resiliency, mental agility, and optimism, the course includes examples of individuals using resilience skills in their personal and professional lives. The course provides:
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Family Connections
Family Connections provides mental health and substance use resources for families. The program is a part of Vancouver Coastal Health.
Types of Resources Includes (non-exhaustive list): 1. Mental Health Education
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HereToHelp - Online Mental Health Resources
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Crisis Phone Lines and Crisis Chat
If you are in crisis, distress, or having thoughts of suicide, help is available!
Phone The Crisis Centre is here to listen, and here to help – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Online Live Chat CrisisCentreChat.ca is a program of the Crisis Centre. It connects adults via live online chat with support, information and resources.
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Anxiety Canada
Tel:604-620-0744 info@anxietycanada.com |
BC Hearing Voices Research Opportunity
Researchers at the Early Psychosis Peer Recovery Network (EPPRN) and the University of British Columbia are conducting an online survey to better understand how experiences like psychosis and hearing voices fit into young people’s lives, including their culture, communities and relationships.
Survey Eligibility:
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Recovery Colleges
Learning centres focused on mental health and well-being, known as recovery colleges, are becoming more prevalent in Canada.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) currently operates 11 of these centres in communities across the country, with plans for more to be opened in the near future. The recovery college model is based on a successful model from the UK, where 85 such colleges have been established since 2009. These centres differentiate themselves from traditional educational institutions by offering courses on subjects such as mental health literacy and health and well-being. The course curriculum is unique, being developed by subject experts, mental health professionals and individuals with personal experience in mental health recovery. Recovery colleges are designed as supportive learning environments for individuals with various mental health goals.
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Peer-Led Support Groups - Mood Disorders Association of BC
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BC Reproductive Mental Health Program
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Location: Room P1-228, Entrance 81 Healthy Minds Centre (BC Women's Hospital), 4500 Oak St. Phone: 604-875-2025 |
PWR (Plan for Wellness & Recovery) Workshop Series
Stay tuned for future workshop dates! For more info & to register, email vanpeerworkshops@vch.ca or call 604-708-5274. |
Centre for Suicide Prevention
The Centre for Suicide Prevention is an education centre located in Calgary, that offers online resources for everyone to access. Their mission is to educate to save lives through suicide prevention by equipping people with the knowledge and skills to respond to those considering suicide.
Education Resources include:
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Vancouver's Accessibility Strategy
The City of Vancouver has released its long-term Accessibility Strategy report, It includes a Collection of Voices Heard section based on the feedback gained from the Vancouver Community through engagements in June 2023.
The Accessibility Strategy reflects Vancouver's commitment to support the full participation of persons with disabilities by establishing and maintaining inclusive services, programs, and infrastructure, and by identifying, removing, and preventing barriers. |
UK Study Seeking Voice Hearers
Dani Chadderton (Researcher and trainee Clinical Psychologist at Lancaster University) and Professors Bill Sellwood and Dr. Rohan Morris are developing a new outcome measure/questionnaire, which will assess the types of relationships people have with the different voices they hear.
The idea is that it will help support the development and evaluation of new psychological therapies, specifically looking at improving people's relationships with their voices, and hopefully reducing distress. They are now looking for voice hearers to complete the questionnaire to test if is is statistically valid. The questionnaire and more information is available online. Contact Info: Email Danielle at: d.chadderton@lancaster.ac.uk |
Talk Suicide
Phone and Text: 9-8-8 More resources and information are available on the website. |
Black Youth Helpline
Tel:1-833-294-8650 info@blackyouth.ca |
Reproductive Psychiatry Program
2nd Floor, 185-1081 Burrard Street Tel:604-806-8589 Tel:604-675-2666 |
Veterans Transition Network
Tel:604-559-8155 Tel:604-559-8156 info@vtncanada.org |
West Coast Mental Health Network Society (WCMHNS)
Organization run by peers for those who are or have previously used the mental health and/or psychiatric systems and are looking for assistance and support in their rehabilitation.
Tel:7783230825 wcmhns@gmail.com |
Access and Assessment Centre (AAC)
803 West 12th Avenue Level 1 East Entrance Tel:(604) 675-3700 |
Connective
Connective is a community-based social services non-profit operating in BC and the Yukon. The organization provides a strong social safety net that addresses the needs of all who walk through our doors. They see a path forward for everyone, with opportunities to learn, grow, and develop—on their own terms and at their own pace. The goal is to assist individuals to achieve greater independence and navigate challenging social systems.
Resources Provided Include:
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#Get Real - Articles to Help
#GetReal is a campaign of the Canadian Mental Health Association that guides you in identifying your emotions, and encouraging you to express them rather than burying them.
When we name precisely how we feel, it’s good for our mental health. Check out this series of great tools and resources. Did you know:
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Program for Families
Tel: 604-926-0856 |
Thrive Program
Thrive is a great program of the Open Door Group.
If you’re living with a mental health condition, Thrive offers free one-to-one coaching and group programs that focus on personal development and positive community connections. They offer dozens of different group programs. Just a few of these are:
Interested in joining? Complete the online intake form. After that, the next step will be that you’ll meet with one of the experienced recreational therapists to set personal goals and build an action plan. Together, you’ll find the right activities and programs to help you reach your goals. Tel:(604) 872 – 0770 |
Podcast: The Power of Disability
This new podcast series highlights what history has overlooked: the incredible contributions of people with disabilities.
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In Motion & Momentum +
In Motion & Momentum + is a new YWCA program that helps participants tap into their full potential and create the life they want to live, through goal setting and action planning.
WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR? In Motion & Momentum + was built for individuals who are feeling stuck or like they have been moving in a direction that is not right for them. The program recognizes the inherent strengths, resilience and potential that lives within each individual and is all about providing experiences and opportunities that help participants to reconnect with their potential, take charge and live the life they want to live. Participants must be unemployed or precariously employed and not a full-time student and have:
PROGRAM DURATION
Total duration: 13 weeks (6 hours a day, from 9:00am to 3:00pm) Note: Registration is currently full. Interested individuals can join the waitlist below. Register for an online intake session |
More Free BC Brain Wellness Programs
Tel:604-827-4386 |
Virtual Support Group - Kaleidoscope Mental Health Support Society
Kaleidoscope Mental Health Support Society General Group is held virtually on Thursdays from 6:30-7:30pm.
About Kaleidoscope |
Wellness Recovery Action Plan
The Wellness Recovery Action Plan® or WRAP®, is a self-designed prevention and wellness process that anyone can use to get well, stay well and make their life the way they want it to be. It was developed by a group of people who were searching for ways to overcome their own mental health issues and move on to fulfilling their life dreams and goals. It is now used extensively by people in all kinds of circumstances, and by health care and mental health systems all over the world to address all kinds of physical, mental health and life issues.
WRAP Will Help You:
Other WRAP Services and Resources: |
Crest-BD - Support and Resources for those with Bipolar Disorder
The Collaborative RESearch Team to study psychosocial issues in Bipolar Disorder (CREST.BD) is a multidisciplinary collaborative network of researchers, people living with bipolar disorder, healthcare providers, and family members and supporters. Learn about managing bipolar disorder - on your own terms.
For two days every year, Crest.BD holds public Q&A about bipolar disorder on Reddit. View a wealth of information in the 3 years of all the questions and answers. |
talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast
The talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast gathers researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts from around the world to discuss and answer the most important questions about living with bipolar disorder.
Each episode is designed to provide education on strategies to live well with bipolar disorder, along with tools and resources for each topic. All talkBD episodes also feature Q&A segments where our experts answer viewer-submitted questions. |
Eight-Week Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [CBT] Skills Groups
The Vancouver CBT Skills Groups
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Mental Health Education Videos
In order to reach out to the public and to make vital mental health information more accessible, MDABC produces a great, wide-ranging series of original videos which they post via the website below or on a YouTube Channel.
The videos feature experienced professionals and/or people with lived experience from the BC community who provide invaluable insight into variety of issues surrounding mental health. |
Online Live Depression Support for Men
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. 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 / Tel:(604) 987-6959 |
Self-Help Modules, Worksheets & Resources for Mental Health Problems
The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) offers resources for individuals and healthcare professionals to assist with interventions for mental health concerns. The workbooks provide information and resources specific to a variety of mental illnesses. These resources provide general information about various mental health problems and techniques that focus on a cognitive-behavioral approach to managing difficulties.
The information provided in the resources is NOT a substitute for proper diagnosis or treatment by an appropriate health professional, and it is recommended that individuals consult their doctor or health care professional about their concerns. Resources for mental health concerns include:
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Mental Health Commission of Canada
The Mental Health Commission of Canada promotes meaningful change through initiatives that support people in their communities. They fund research and policy work to address gaps in Canada's mental health services in order to provide better outcomes for all. They can provide curated, evidence-based information that can be trusted.
Services include:
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Hearing Voices Network Study Club
This group meets on a monthly basis to discuss and watch videos plus read and discuss literature related to the International Hearing Voices Network.
When: Monthly on various Friday evenings from 6:30 - 8pm To be added to the E-list for this group: Tel:604-708-5276 Where: Meeting Room #2 Creekside Community Recreation Centre 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver |
All In The Mind Podcast
All in the Mind is a podcast that explores all things mental: the mind, brain, and behaviour. It covers everything from addiction and mental illness to artificial intelligence. The podcast frequently has special guests, including healthcare professionals, scientists, athletes, and members of the community.
Recent Episode Topics:
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