Community Mental Health, Crisis, and Social Service Resource

Crisis Centre BC

https://crisiscentre.bc.ca/get-help/

Crisis Centre BC can listen and 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.
Anywhere in BC: 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433
Mental Health Support Line: 604-310-6789
Vancouver Coastal Regional Distress Line: 604-872-3311
Sunshine Coast/Sea to Sky: 1-866-661-3311
Seniors Distress Line: 604-872-1234
Online Chat Service for Youth: www.YouthInBC.com (Noon to 1am)
Online Chat Service for Adults: www.CrisisCentreChat.ca (Noon to 1am)

211 British Columbia

https://bc.211.ca/

211 is FREE and CONFIDENTIAL. They provide information and referrals to a broad range of community, government, and social services that assist with basic needs like food and shelter, mental health and addictions support, legal and financial assistance, support for senior and more. You can find resources by postal code or community.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)

www.cmha.bc.ca

Promotes mental health awareness and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing mental illness. They provide information, resources, educational events, direct services, and research and advocacy.

Phone: 604-688-3234

Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia

https://www.mdabc.net/

MDABC Provides support and education for those struggling with mood disorders and their families. In addition, MDABC provides a rapid mental health walk-in clinic (doctor's referral needed) for individuals requiring quick access to psychiatric assessment services. Follow-up is offered in the form of psycho-educational groups.

Phone: 604-688-3234

Anxiety Canada

https://www.anxietycanada.com/

Anxiety Canada provides resources and programs to understand and treat anxiety. For adults, children and youth.

Recommended Reads for healing & growth

1. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
A groundbreaking book that explores how trauma reshapes both the body and brain, and what paths are available for healing. A must-read for understanding the deep connections between mental health, trauma, and the nervous system.

2. What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing
by Dr. Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey
Through a compassionate dialogue, this book explains how our early experiences shape who we are—and how understanding that can help us heal. Deeply moving and accessible.

3. Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us Out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode
by Aundi Kolber
This gentle and empowering book encourages readers to respond to life with self-compassion rather than pushing through with force. Especially helpful for those who feel overwhelmed or disconnected from their bodies.

4. It’s Not Always Depression: Working the Change Triangle to Listen to the Body, Discover Core Emotions, and Connect to Your True Self
by Hilary Jacobs Hendel, LCSW
An approachable guide to understanding your emotions using the Change Triangle—a practical framework for connecting with your core feelings and cultivating emotional health.

5. Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love
by Amir Levine, M.D. & Rachel Heller
A relatable, research-backed explanation of attachment theory and how it impacts adult relationships. Great for anyone interested in understanding connection, closeness, and emotional safety.

6. Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive
by Dr. Marc Brackett
Written by the founder of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, this book offers tools for recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions in a way that fosters resilience and self-awareness.