Centralized Access and Rapid Engagement Service (CARES) provides screening, assessment, treatment recommendations and referrals to Island Health Mental Health and Substance Use and external community programs in the Victoria area. The intake team includes professionals with backgrounds in social work, nursing, substance use treatment and psychology, with psychiatrist support to make referral decisions.
Visit the CARES Brochure for more information and how to complete referrals.
Urgent Short Term Assessment and Treatment (USTAT) provides short-term individual psychotherapy for patients in crisis, at risk, or in severe distress. With this service, clients are assigned to a primary therapist who does an initial assessment and establishes treatment goals. A team of psychiatrists is available as needed for consultation and follow up.
Visit USTAT for more information.
Foundry offers free and confidential support for young people ages 12-24 – mental health care, substance use services, medical services, youth and family peer support, and social services – both online and in-person in communities across BC. Young people can drop-in or schedule a virtual counselling appointment, find peer support, access primary care, get support with employment, access groups & workshops, or browse our library of tools and resources all from the FoundryBC App.
Visit Foundry BC for more information.
The BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre provides mental health and substance use information, resources, and peer support to families across BC, with a child or youth up to the age of 24. All services are free of charge.
1-800-665-1822
keltycentre@cw.bc.ca
Zoom video call is available. Contact by phone or email to arrange.
Visit BCCH Kelty Mental Health for more information.
The last thing that most people expect is that they will run out of reasons to live.
If you are experiencing suicide-related thoughts and behaviours, you need to know that you’re not alone. There are many crisis centres available 24 hours a day to talk to you.
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Crisis Line
The 24 Hour Crisis Line is a registered non-profit agency whose services include 24-hour Crisis Lines, as well as Crisis Chat and Crisis Text services, through which they provide short-term non judgemental support, crisis intervention, information, and resources; training in schools with youth, teachers, counsellors, and parents; suicide bereavement support throughout Vancouver Island, as well as regional consultation and workshops regarding suicide bereavement support; and various workshops and customized training addressing suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and communication skills and other three-hour workshops for individuals and agencies throughout our communities.
Visit the Vancouver Island Crisis Society for more information.
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Talk Suicide
Connect to a crisis responder to get help without judgment.
Call: 1-833-456-4566
Visit Talk Suicide Online for more information
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First Nations Hope for Wellness Help Line
The Hope for Wellness Helpline is available to all Indigenous people across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are reachable by telephone and online ‘chat’ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Both telephone and online chat services are available in English and French. Telephone support is also available upon request in:
Call 24/7: 1-855-242-3310
YMCA- Mental Health Supports
Mental health challenges shouldn’t get in the way of doing what you love. The YMCA’s programs are designed to help overcome barriers and get you on the right track to where you’d like to be.
Y MIND TEEN – AGES 13-18
Y Mind Teen is a free seven-week program delivered across BC. This program supports teens ages 13 to 18 who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety to learn and practice evidence-based strategies to cope with stress and anxiety. Y Mind Teen is led by trained mental health professionals and educators and gives teens the chance to connect with others who are experiencing similar thoughts and feelings.
Y MIND YOUTH – AGES 18 – 30
The Y Mind Youth programs have now returned to in person delivery in Victoria held at the Downtown Y on Broughton St. Online groups are available with enough interest or through our partner sites on Vancouver Island as well as other Y’s across BC.
If anxiety is impacting your life and preventing you from doing what you want or need to do, this group is for you. Y Mind Youth is a free seven-week program delivered across BC. Y Mind Youth supports people ages 18-30 who are experiencing symptoms of mild to moderate anxiety to learn and practice evidence-based strategies to increase coping. This group is led by trained mental health professionals and gives young adults the chance to connect with others who are experiencing similar thoughts and feelings.
OTHER Y MIND PROGRAMS:
Youth Y Mind- Sooke/Westshore
In Person Youth Y Mind is being offered in Sooke and Westshore at Pacific Centre Family Services Association, contact for more information: https://pacificcentrefamilyservices.org/.
Online Groups Offered by Y’s across BC:
We will be offering an online group this Winter stay tuned for more information!
Y Mind 18-30 – YMCA BC are offering virtual groups.
Program Dates: contact mindfulness@vancouverislandy.ca
Y Mind Adult – AGES 31+
YMCA BC are doing virtual Adult 31+ groups.
Contact mindfulness@vancouverislandy.ca or visit YMCA for more information.
The Free Counselling Society Canada is a registered BC not-for-profit entirely-volunteer-run society, founded by a small team of experienced Counsellors and Counsellor Supervisors (aka Clinical Supervisors) in Vancouver BC Canada. Their goal is to connect Clients located in BC, Ontario, and Canada-wide with 12 sessions and more free counselling (video call or phone call) with minimal waitlist.
Services in multiple languages: English, Arabic, Cantonese, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Persian, Portugese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Urdu, Vietnamese and more.
Counselling is provided by Volunteer Student Counsellors who are professionally supervised and near the end of their journey to being accredited. Our counsellors are committed to providing 12 sessions and more free counselling to each client.
Visit the Free Counselling Society for more information.
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Free and Affordable Counselling in Victoria, BC
There are more than 20 organizations in the Greater Victoria area that offer either free or affordable counselling services.
Visit Free and Affordable Counselling in Victoria for more information
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) provides a variety of resources that provide education and tools to improve mental health. They also have various programs that you can register for.
BounceBack for Adults: teaches effective skills to help adults overcome early symptoms of depression, and improve their mental health. Participants can learn skills to help combat unhelpful thinking, manage worry and anxiety, and become more active and assertive. Available for free across BC, Bounce Back has been shown to help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by half, and over 90% say they would recommend it to a friend or family member. Bounce Back offers two forms of help: an instructional video or a customized series of workbooks with 4 to 6 coaching sessions by phone.
Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division – Victoria Office
#101- 612 View Street
250-216-4228
Visit the CMDA BounceBack Program for more information.
Counselling is a tool for individuals experiencing a difficult situation to resolve their emotional distress and enjoy greater wellness. Health Benefits partners with Indigenous Services Canada to offer a comprehensive mental health plan to First Nations in BC. Your plan covers counselling services from a qualified mental health provider. Mental health providers include psychologists, clinical counsellors and social workers. Your plan will cover as many hours of counselling as you and your provider determine you need.The mental health provider must be registered with Health Benefits.
Visit FNHA Mental Health and Coverage for more information.
Perinatal Outreach Program
Haven’s Perinatal Outreach Program (POP) is a support service aimed at helping women, and their families, prepare for the birth of their child, and their first year of life. Each client in the program is supported by our Client Services Director who provides support and education to help them through their pregnancy journey. Expectant Moms can self-refer. Appointments are available Tuesday-Thursday from 10:00AM – 4:00 PM.
Thrivings Mom’s Group
Haven’s Thrivings Mom’s Group is guided by the values of Love, Connection and Growth. We aim to equip and inspire young women to strive for excellence, reach for the stars, and become the best woman and mother she can be. The purpose of the Thriving Moms group is to come alongside women in their first year of parenting and help mothers move from surviving to thriving. We do this by offering a safe, non-judgemental space to connect with other mothers, gain support and learn more about goal setting, life skills and self-care. The group runs September to June, on Thursday mornings. Call Emily to schedule an intake at 250-380-6883.
“Connected” Group
Haven’s Connected Group is aimed at establishing healthy relationships that are based on strong connections and respectful boundaries – which build resilience for life’s challenges. Contact Emily to schedule an intake and inquire about group dates/times: 250-380-6883.
#112 – 826 North Park Street V8W 3B4
250-380-6883
info@havenpsc.ca
Visit Haven’s Parenting Resources for more information.