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Helplines in British Columbia, Canada.

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Youth

Youth Crisis Line provides 24/7, free and confidential support by phone, text message (SMS) and online chat. We support youth...


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Online Chat

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Everyone

Vancouver Island Crisis Line offers 24/7, free and confidential support and information by phone, text message (SMS), and...


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Online Chat

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Everyone

You deserve to be heard. We’re here to listen. The Crisis Centre of BC offers confidential support and resources 24/7 for...


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All topics
Youth

Crisis Centre Distress Youth Chat provides 24/7, free, compassionate and confidential support by online chat. We support youth...


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Everyone

All 4 lines offer 24/7/365 toll-free service with trained volunteers or paid responders • 1-888-353-2273 – The Interior Crisis...


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Chimo offers free, confidential and non-judgmental emotional support from 8:00am to midnight, seven days a week, with our...


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Online Chat

Everyone

Our purpose at Telecare Crisis & Caring Line (British Columbia, Canada) is to provide telephone befriending, caring, and...


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Everyone

BC Suicide Line provides 24/7, free and confidential support and information over phone. We help everyone in British Columbia,...


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Everyone

Provides free, confidential, multilingual phone information and referral about community resources for victims of crime, as...


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BC Bereavement Helpline offers free, compassionate and confidential support by phone. We support everyone in British Columbia,...


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Illustration of a woman throwing a lifebuoy to a distressed person, symbolizing providing a lifeline for people in crisis

Free hotlines and helplines in British Columbia, Canada

If you're looking for mental health support, or you're worried that a loved one could be having a mental health crisis, contacting a hotline or helpline can help. There are 13 crisis services you can contact in British Columbia, Canada.

It's common to feel some anxiety about contacting a helpline. Learn more about what helplines offer so you can decide if it's right for you.

What is a helpline or hotline?

A helpline – also called a hotline or crisis line – is a free counseling service where you can talk to a person for emotional support. The support offered is free and confidential and in some cases, available 24/7. Depending on the helpline, support may be offered over the phone, text message or online chat.

What kind of support do helplines offer?

Helplines provide a judgment-free space for you to talk, unpack your burdens and receive support. Their support may take the form of active listening, help processing emotions, and working with you to determine meaningful next steps.

Who will I talk to when I contact a helpline?

When you call a helpline, you'll connect with a volunteer or counselor, or sometimes with a peer with similar experience to the topic of the helpline. They are often trained and experienced in active listening or crisis counseling. This means they know how to help people in your situation.

What issues can I talk to a helpline about?

Helplines are crisis services that offer free support for a range of behavioral and mental health problems. There are helplines that are tailored to people experiencing particular types of emotional pain or crisis, such as suicide, depression, anxiety, abuse, and domestic violence. Others support particular demographics such as youth, children, veterans or the LGBTQ+ community. There are also helplines that will support you no matter what mental or behavioral health issues you may be experiencing.

What is a suicide hotline?

If you've had thoughts about harming yourself or even ending your life, there are suicide prevention hotlines that can help. These helplines, otherwise known as lifelines or crisis lines, are typically available to offer support 24/7. Most suicide hotlines also support with any topic that is on your mind, which means you don't have to be suicidal to contact them.

Can I contact a helpline for support with a person I'm worried about?

Yes. If you are concerned about someone you care about, you can contact a helpline for advice and support. The helpline representative will discuss possible ways for you to support the person, such as support systems the person can use, as well as behaviors or steps you can do to help.

I'm in British Columbia, Canada. What hotlines and helplines are available to me?

In British Columbia, Canada, there are 13 hotlines and helplines that support with a range of topics.

Globally, there are over 2,000 helplines and hotlines, and the support they offer varies across topics and populations. What unites them is their shared aim to support people who are experiencing mental health distress or emotional pain. Helplines are there to assist you in a time of emotional pain, and to support those who may be noticing warning signs of an emotional crisis in those they care about.


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