For life-threatening emergencies, please call 9-1-1.

If you are experiencing significant mental health and/or addiction problems that you feel require immediate attention, or are at a high risk of harm to yourself or others, go to the nearest Emergency Department or call or text 9-8-8.

For non-urgent mental health concerns, family doctors and nurse practitioners are often the first point of contact. They can assess mental health conditions, prescribe medication, and refer patients to a psychiatrists or other specialists. To make an appointment, call your physician’s office during business hours. To find a primary care provider near you, call 8-1-1.

  • Any of the following may indicate a need for support: 

    • Feeling desperate or trapped, like there is no way out of your current circumstances 

    • Feeling disconnected, lonely or isolated, like there is no one you can go to that understands how you really feel 

    • Overwhelmed by negative thoughts or thinking constantly about something stressful 

    • Thinking you would be better off dead or thinking about death often 

    • New or worsening feelings of anxiety, depression, irritability, hopelessness, shame, or worthlessness 

    • Feling disconnected from your body or physically numb 

    • Frequent crying 

    • Uncontrollable anger 

    • Avoiding friends and loved ones 

    • Using alcohol or drugs more than usual, or feeling like you need them to cope 

    • Not being able to sleep or sleeping more than usual 

    If they don’t happen too often, some of the above signs might be a part of everyday life. But when they become more frequent, more intense, and last for longer, that can be a sign you are struggling and need help. 

  • Urgent Care Centres provide access for unexpected, but non-life-threatening health concerns. Addiction and mental health services are available at most Urgent Care Centres throughout the Canada including rural areas.

    Please view the links below to find an Urgent Care Facility near you:

  • CANADA WIDE

    Canada Walk In Clinics

    • Network of 108 walk-in mental health clinics across Canada.

    • Click here to view website

    CALGARY & SURROUNDING AREA

    The Summit: Marian & Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience (youth 18 years and under)

    • Phone: 587-534-7200

    • Address: 1015 - 17 Street NW Calgary

    • Hours: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm (daily)

    • Service provided: single-session therapy, multiple-session therapy

    Mental Health Walk-In - South Calgary Health Centre (all ages)

    • Phone: 403-943-9374

    • Address: 2nd floor, 31 Sunpark Plaza SE Calgary

    • Hours: Mon to Thurs 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Fri 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

    • Service provided: single-session therapy

    Mental Health Walk-In - Cochrane Community Health Clinic (all ages)

    • Phone: 403-851-6100

    • Address: 60 Grande Blvd Cochrane

    • Hours: Mon to Thurs 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, Fri 11:00 am - 2:30 pm

    • Service provided: single-session therapy

    Wood’s Homes Eastside Family Centre (all ages)

    • Phone: 403-299-9696, 1-800-563-6106

    • Address: Northgate Mall, 255 495-36th Street NE Calgary

    • Hours: Mon to Thurs 11:00am - 7:00 pm, Fri 11:00 am - 6:00 pm, Sat 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

    • Service provided: single-session therapy

    • Guardians for those under 18 years should attend the visit.

    Adult Addiction Services (adults)

    • Phone: 403-297-3071

    • Address: 2nd Floor, 1177 11th Avenue SW Calgary

    • Hours: Weekdays at 12:45 pm

    • Service provided: intake and assessment

    Youth Addiction Services (youth 12-17 years)

    • Phone: 403-297-4667

    • Address: 1005 17th Street NW Calgary

    • Hours: Mon, Wed, and Fri from 8:30 am - 10:00 am

    • Service provided: intake and assessment

    Addiction and Mental Health Walk-In - Airdrie Regional Health Centre (all ages)

    • Phone: 403-912-8500

    • Address: 604 Main Street S Airdrie

    • Hours: Mon to Fri 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    • Service provided: single-session therapy

  • CANADA WIDE

    Canadian Counselling Services

    Free Counselling Society Canada

    CALGARY BASED

    Calgary Counselling Centre

    • Phone: 403-691-5991

    Carya‍ ‍

    • Dedicated to creating strong families and communities by providing support with mental, physical, emotional and financial wellbeing.

    • Phone: 403-205-5244

    • Website: https://caryacalgary.ca/

    Community Connect YYC

    • Affordable and barrier-free access to phone or video counselling sessions.

    • Services include rapid-access counselling, suicide bereavement, family support for those supporting someone with a mental illness, counselling for children and families, low-income family supports, and sexual health counselling.

    • Website: https://www.communityconnectyyc.ca/

  • Helplines and crisis supports are resources meant to provide short-term immediate support. For more information on long term mental health supports, please view the ‘Counselling Services’ tab.

    CRISIS SUPPORT

    National 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Line (all ages - 24/7)

    • Call or text 9-8-8

    Suicide Prevention Line (all ages – 24 hour)

    • Phone: 1-800-SUI-CIDE (784-2433)

    ‍Distress Centre Calgary (all ages – 24 hour)

    • Phone: 403-266-HELP (4357)

    Mobile Response Team/ Psychiatric Outreach Response Team (12 years and up - CALGARY ONLY)

    • Phone: 403-266-HELP (4357) Access through the Distress Centre

    • Hours: Daily 9:30 am – 9:30 pm

    • Services provided: crisis intervention, crisis stabilization, prevention, urgent psychiatric assessments, and trauma response.

    YOUTH SUPPORT

    Kid’s Help Phone (24/7 - youth 24 and under)‍ ‍

    • Phone: 1-800-668-6868

    • Text message chat available – text CONNECT to 686868

    Bullying Helpline (24 hour)‍ ‍

    • Helpline for those struggling with bullying.

    • Supports for educators and caregivers to prevent and appropriately address bullying behaviours.

    • Provided by the Government of Alberta, in 170 languages.

    • Phone: 1-888-456-2323

    • Website: bullyfreealberta.ca

    Distress Centre Calgary ConnecTeen (youth 21 years or less – 24 hour)

    • Phone: 403-264-TEEN (8336)

    Wood’s Homes Community Resource Team (youth 12 to 17 years – 24 hour)

    • Phone: 403-299-9699, 1-800-563-610

    ALL AGES SUPPORT

    HealthLink Alberta (all ages – 24 hour)

    • Phone: 8-1-1

    Alberta Mental Health Helpline (24/7)

    • Crisis intervention and mental health program and service information.

    • Phone: 1-877-303-2642

    VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ABUSE SUPPORT

    Canadian Family Violence Help Lines

    • Helplines based on Province or Territory

    • Website: Click here

    Domestic Abuse Hotline 

    • Supports for those struggling with family violence or abuse. 

    • Phone: 1-800-799-7233 

    • Text: text START to 88788 

    Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse

    • Support for survivors of sexual assault or abuse.

    • Hours: Daily from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm MST

    • Phone: 403-237-5888

    MEN’S SUPPORT

    Men’s Resource Line (24/7)

    • Support for men by trained counsellors. Provided by Men&.

    • Phone: 1-833-327-MENS(6367)

    • Website: menand.ca

  • Bridge the Gapp

    Alberta Health Services: Help in Tough Times

    Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

    • Information and resources for mental health and addiction concerns. 

    The University of Calgary Self Help Resource Page

    Healing in Colour

    Mind Your Mind

    • Website: mindyourmind.ca

    • Interactive tools and resources by and for young adults to help create mental wellness.

    Kickstand

    • Website: mykickstand.ca

    • Collection of supports and services for Alberta youth regarding mental health, sexual health, and substance use.

    Drug Safe

    Anxiety Coach

    • Website: www.anxietycoach.com

    • Self help and education about anxiety from Clinical Psychologist Dr. Dave Carbonell

    Be There

    • Website: betherecertificate.org

    • Learn to support someone struggling with their mental health through this online course. Earning your Be There certificate is free, and only takes approximately two hours of your time.

    Emotional Wellness Toolkit 

    • Strategies for improving your emotional health. 

    Canada Postpartum Supports

    • Support for those struggling with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders 

    Family Smart 

    • Supports for parents of children with mental health troubles. 

  • AWO TAAN Healing Lodge

    • Phone: 403-531-1970 ext. 200

    Indigenous Mental Health Program‍

    • Phone: 403-955-6645

    Healing in Colour

    • Canada wide mental health support for BIPoC individuals

    Hope for Wellness Help Line

    • Immediate help, including counselling and crisis intervention, to all Indigenous people across Canada 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in English, French, Cree, Ojibway, or Inuktitut

    • Phone: 1-855-242-3310

    • Online chat: click here

    • Website: hopeforwellness.ca

  • CANADA WIDE

    Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans Youth Line

    • Available for calls on Mon and Tues from 2:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Available for text and web chat from Sun to Fri from 2:00 pm - 7:30 pm.

    • Phone: 1-800-268-9688

    • Text: 647-694-4275

    • Website: youthline.ca

    Trans Lifeline (24/7)

    • Providing peer support for trans individuals. Run by and for trans people.

    • Phone: 1-877-330-6366

    Interligne (all ages - 24/7)

    CALGARY BASED

    You Matter: 2SLGBTQ+ Peer Support and Resource Line

    • A non-crisis peer support and resource line run by Calgary Outlink volunteers

    • Hours: Monday - Thursday; 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

    • Phone: +1 587-800-4121

    The Alex Youth Health Centre (ages 12-24)

    • A safe and supportive place for youth ages 12-24 to get health and social care from a trustworthy and caring team of doctors, nurses, and social workers.

    • Phone: 403-520-6270

    • Text: 403-680-9627 (drop-in hours apply)

    • Address: 104 2840 2 Ave SE Calgary

    • Website: thealex.ca/program/youth-health-centre

    • Drop-in hours: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday to Friday

    • Appointment hours: 10:30 am – 5:15 pm Monday to Friday

    • Services offered: single-session therapy, multiple-session therapy

    Skipping Stone

    • Connecting trans and gender-diverse youth, adults, and families with comprehensive and low-barrier access to support.

    • Phone: 587-333-4342

    • Address: 1250 - 407 2 St SW Calgary

    • Website: skippingstone.ca

    • Services offered: 1:1 support, resources, and education for trans and gender-diverse individualS

  • CANADA WIDE

    Drug Rehab Services

    • Free, confidential, professional help and resource for drug and alcohol addiction in Canada

    • Phone: 1-877-254-3348

    • Website: drugrehab.ca

    Drug Safe 

    • A trusted source for information on reducing the harm of alcohol and other drugs. 

    Internet Addiction 

    • Tips on how to assess and control phone and internet use. 

    Food Addicts Anonymous

    • Program for those who struggle with their relationship to food, or other distressing eating patterns.

    • Website: https://foodaddicts.org/

    ALBERTA BASED

    Alberta Quits Helpline‍ ‍

    • A free, confidential telephone counselling service for smokers and spit tobacco users.

    • Hours: Daily from 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

    • Phone: 1-866-710-7848 (QUIT)

    Alberta’s Virtual Opioid Dependency Program

    • Connecting individuals with doctors, case workers, and other supports via technology to provide ongoing care for Alberta residents with opioid addiction

    • Phone: 1-844-383-7688

    • Website: vodp.ca

  • If you’re not sure where to go:

    2-1-1 for community supports

    • Through telephone consultation or their web based portal, professionals can help you better understand and get connected to the most helpful supports. They are familiar with governmental and community-based supports for all ages.

    • Available 24/7

    8-1-1 for health information

    • Telephone information line staffed by professional nurses to provide you with free, confidential information about your health.

    • Hours may vary based on location.

    • Phone: 8-1-1

    All Provinces and Territories have locally based mental health supports. For more information on these supports, click here.

  • For a list of free or low cost mental health resources in the United States, click here

The Kopala Sibley Lab would like to acknowledge and thank the following funding sources:

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The Kopala-Sibley lab would like to acknowledge that this study is conducted on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Metis Nation of Alberta, Region III.