Mental Health Resources
In the 2016 YouthSpeak Report, youth named mental health as one of the top five issues facing youth in and from care. The resources below are just a few places you can start looking for mental health supports. This list is also published in Power Pages #51, along with a Q&A with a mental health professional. If you know of any other mental health services that you think would be helpful for other youth in and from care, let us know! We can add them here. Email info@fbcyicn.ca to send us your suggestions.
Foundry
Foundry has centres around BC, plus a website, FoundryBC.ca, accessible anywhere with information about a number of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, substance use, stress, and more. FoundryBC.ca provides tips for dealing with mental health concerns, lists apps and tools available, and helps you find resources you can access online, over the phone, and in your community.
foundrybc.ca
310.6789
310.6789. No need to dial 604, 778, or 250. This number will connect you to your local BC crisis line 24/7. Crisis line workers are trained to help provide emotional support, as well as mental health information and resources.
Health Link BC
Dial 811 any time of day or night to speak with a navigator who can connect you with services.
HeretoHelp
Heretohelp.bc.ca is a great resource if you want to learn more about mental health. You can find information on a lot of mental health issues, including co-existing mental health and substance use problems, eating disorders, grief, self-harm, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depression. HeretoHelp has online screening self-tests to help you look at your mental health or wellness. The self-tests are not the same as a diagnosis from a doctor, but they can help you look for signs of a mental health concern and identify thought or feeling patterns.
http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/
Anxiety Canada
Anxiety Canada can help you understand anxiety and find ways to cope with it. Anxiety Canada's website has self-help tools, including information about the MindShift app, a kind of “portable coach” designed to help teens and young adults cope with their anxiety.
https://www.anxietycanada.com/
You can get the free MindShift app on Google Play and the App Store.
AgedOut.com
AgedOut.com is a great overall resource for youth who’ve aged out of care. It has a whole section on health and wellness, which covers mental health issues and walks through the process of finding support.
https://agedout.com/health-and-wellness
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
Kelty Mental Health (along with providing general information about mental health issues, substance use, medications and healthy living) can help you navigate the mental health system. The Help Finder Tool and System Navigation videos are available on their website. You can also access their help over the phone, via email, or in person.
Toll Free: 1-800-665-1822
E-mail: keltycentre@cw.bc.ca
http://keltymentalhealth.ca/
bc211
bc211 provides information and referrals to community, government and social services in BC. They provide a number of helplines for different issues you may experience, and a search engine on their website that can help you find affordable mental health services. Make sure you use keywords like ‘free’ or ‘sliding scale’ (where you pay based on your income) in your search.
http://www.bc211.ca/
Kid's Help Phone
The Kid’s Help Phone provides 24/7 counselling online or over the phone. Call 1-800-668-6868 or visit https://kidshelpphone.ca/ to chat with a counsellor. There is no age limit to access the Kids Help Phone.
1-800-SUICIDE
If you’re having suicidal thoughts or you’re concerned about someone who is, call 1-800-784-2433. The service is available 24/7 in over 100 languages.
Canadian Mental Health Association-British Columbia Division (CMHA-BC)
CHMA-BC is a national charity that supports recovery of people experiencing mental health issues, substance use issues and/or addiction. The CMHA-BC website has a ton of great information about different mental illnesses, and you can find a CMHA-BC office in your area.
https://cmha.bc.ca/
Toll-free phone (BC only): 1-800-555-8222
For mental health information, referrals and support: help@cmha.bc.ca
Bounce Back
Bounce Back is a free program geared towards people 15 and up with mild to moderate anxiety or depression. Bounce Back teaches how to manage worry, anxiety and unhelpful thought patterns. It’s available as a self-guided online course or as coaching sessions done over the phone or video conference.
https://cmha.bc.ca/programs-services/bounce-back/