NEED HELP NOW?
Distress Lines
If you feel like you’re in crisis, or your children are, reach out:
Wood’s Homes > Mental Health Services for Youth https://www.woodshomes.ca/ (text, phone and online chat options)
Distress Centre > Mental Health Services for Teens https://calgaryconnecteen.com/2015/02/need-help/ (phone, text, online chat, email options)
Distress Centre > 24-Hour Help for Adults https://www.distresscentre.com/ (phone and online chat)
Calgary Branch of Canadian Mental Health Association > 24/7 Distress Line 403-266-4357
SeniorsConnect > 24-Hour Help for Seniors 403-266-HELP (403-266-4357)
MORE HELP
Mental Health Resources
These links have articles, tools (including things like free meditations), and other resources to support you.
Alberta Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association: https://alberta.cmha.ca/ Twitter feed: @CMHA_AB
Calgary Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association: https://cmha.calgary.ab.ca/
Virus Anxiety https://www.virusanxiety.com/
Health Link 8-1-1 (enormous call volumes - long wait time)
Alberta Mental Health Helpline 1-877-303-2642
Provincial referral line 2-1-1 (for community, government, and social services)
Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 (for kids and teens who need to talk)
ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS
Age-Friendly Calgary Resources https://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/CNS/Documents/seniors/age-friendly/Essential-numbers.pdf
Seniors Mental Health Information 403-943-1500
SeniorConnect Calgary: Online short courses for those working with and caring for seniors FREE (registration required) https://www.seniorconnectcalgary.org/signup
KNOW EVEN MORE
General Information & Research
If you want reliable information on mental health:
Government of Canada > About Mental Health https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/about-mental-health.html
Canadian Mental Health Association > COVID-19 and mental health https://cmha.ca/news/covid-19-and-mental-health
Calgary Distress Centre > Updates on Need and Response https://www.distresscentre.com/2020/03/march-19-update-distress-centres-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/
Article: “The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it” (The Lancet) https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30460-8/fulltext
Article: “Looking to use mental health apps during self-isolation? Consider these tips (CBC) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/self-isolation-mental-health-support-app-1.5502234
