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1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 9-8-8

​Call 1-800-784-2433 or dial 9-8-8 if you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide

310 Mental Health Support

310-6789 (NO AREA CODE)

Call for emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health.

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Call for same-day opioid addiction support.

KUU-US Crisis Response Service

1-800-588-8717

Call for culturally-aware crisis support for Indigenous peoples in B.C.

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    Fostering resilience in the young people we care about is crucial for their overall wellbeing. By modelling resilience ourselves and by teaching it as a skill, we can help give young people the tools they need to meet challenges.

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    Anxiety, Stress, Depression. Understand the differences.

    Anxiety, depression, and stress are three common mental health concerns that can deeply impact our daily lives. But sometimes, when you’re not feeling well, it can be hard to figure out exactly why.

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    Opioid Treatment Access Line: phone number 1-833-804-8111

    Get same-day support

    The Opioid Treatment Access Line makes it faster and easier to access life-saving medication with same-day support.

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  • Wellbeing
    • Healthy Living
      • Eating Well
      • Staying Active
      • Sleep Habits
      • Mindfulness
    • Emotional
      • Resilience
      • Self-Esteem
      • Loneliness
    • Social
      • Stigma
      • Family
    Image
    young person talking to a group

    Youth Resilience

    Fostering resilience in the young people we care about is crucial for their overall wellbeing. By modelling resilience ourselves and by teaching it as a skill, we can help give young people the tools they need to meet challenges.

    Learn more
  • Mental health
    • Anxiety
      • What to Do About Anxiety
      • Panic Attacks
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Depression
      • Symptoms of Depression
      • What to Do About Depression
    • Stress
      • Symptoms of Stress
      • Managing Stress
    • Self-Harm
    • Suicide
    • Seeking Help
      • Families Supporting Youth
      • Youth Supporting Themselves
      • Multi-Language Services in BC
    Image
    Man looks out window pensively

    Anxiety, Stress, Depression. Understand the differences.

    Anxiety, depression, and stress are three common mental health concerns that can deeply impact our daily lives. But sometimes, when you’re not feeling well, it can be hard to figure out exactly why.

    Learn more
  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
      • Alcohol
      • Opioids
      • Stimulants
    • Addiction
      • Addiction and Health
      • Treatment and Recovery
    • Harm Reduction
      • Overdose Prevention
      • Respond to an Overdose
      • Naloxone
      • Drug Checking
    Image
    Opioid Treatment Access Line: phone number 1-833-804-8111

    Get same-day support

    The Opioid Treatment Access Line makes it faster and easier to access life-saving medication with same-day support.

    Learn more
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The Difference Between Mental Health and Mental Illness

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  2. The Difference Between Mental Health And Mental Illness

More than ever, people are aware of the importance of talking about mental health and mental illness.

You might be hearing these terms more often. You might wonder what they mean or have questions: What’s the difference between mental health and mental illness? Is feeling sad or unhappy a sign of mental illness? How can I look after my mental health?

These are good questions to ask. Talking about mental health and mental illness is one way to lessen the shame some people feel because of stigma. Having an understanding about these subjects can help you speak more openly about mental health and offer support to people who may be struggling alone because they are afraid to reach out.

 

What is mental health?

Like physical health, mental health is a part of everyone’s life. Physical health is the state of your body, and mental health is the state of your mind, feelings, and emotions.

Physical health can influence mental health, both positively and negatively. So can life experiences, work or school environment, relationships, and the community you live in.

Being mentally healthy contributes to feeling, thinking and acting in ways that help you enjoy life and cope with its challenges. Struggling with mental health may result in feeling unhappy, difficulty thinking clearly, or feeling overwhelmed by stressful situations.

Resilience – the inner-strength you use to cope with stressful situations – is also a big part of mental health. To be resilient means you can effectively cope with ups and downs that are part of life.

Building resilience can help you avoid being overwhelmed by stressful situations. This in turn further builds resilience – it gives you the confidence to know you can get through difficult times when they come up again.

It’s important to give your mental health ongoing care and attention. There are things you can do to maintain good mental health, and other factors that influence mental health to learn about to help you build your understanding.

 

What is mental illness?

While mental health is always there and may be positive or negative, mental illness affects a person’s ability to function over a long period of time.

Mental illness is not the same as feeling sad, unhappy, or stressed because of difficult situations. People with mental illness may feel distressed regularly and may not feel in control of their lives. Mental illness can impact how we see ourselves, how we see the world around us and how we interact with the world.

It’s important to know that it is possible to have good mental health even if you have a mental illness. Just like with other conditions, many people with mental illness experience tough times but they can also have periods of better or good mental health. Taking care of your mental health is important for everyone.

 

Types of mental illness

Mental illnesses often involve changes in behaviour, mood or thinking. Symptoms can vary. Generally, a person will experience significant distress or an inability to function over an extended time.

Anyone can develop a mental illness. Some risk factors that increase this chance are:

  • Family history of mental illness
  • Unresolved traumatic or abusive childhood experiences
  • Stressful life events, such as a loved one’s death, financial problems or divorce
  • Environmental influences on a fetus, such as exposure to drugs or alcohol
  • Social factors, such as discrimination, poverty or barriers to opportunity

There are many different kinds of mental illness including:

  • mood disorders
  • anxiety disorders
  • eating disorders
  • post-traumatic stress disorder
  • schizophrenia

Experiencing any of these illnesses can be very challenging, but there are treatments and supports available.

 

Where to get support for mental health or mental illness challenges

Because of the shame and blame sometimes associated with mental illness and mental health, many people feel like they can’t reach out for help. If you or a loved one is experiencing mental illness or mental health-related challenges, there are a number of supports you can reach out to.

  • Learn more about mental health challenges and ways to support yourself and your loved ones.
  • For information and assistance around finding mental health or mental illness services, call 8-1-1 to speak to a health service navigator.
  • If you need someone to talk to right away, learn about the different help lines that are available.
  •  Browse supports such as counselling, mental health intake, peer support and more.
  • Learn about services for youth here.

 

Resources

Showing 5 Resources

Available B.C. wide

310 Mental Health Support

Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia

Provides a toll-free number connecting callers to a BC crisis line. Offers emotional support, information on appropriate referral options, and a wide range of support relating to mental health concerns.

Learn More
Available B.C. wide

Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre

BC Children's Hospital

Provides mental health and substance use information, resources and help with navigating the mental health system for families throughout BC and the Yukon.

Parent peer support workers are also available to support parents and caregivers by phone, virtual meeting, e-mail or in-person. See website for online resources, educational events and webinars.

4555 Heather Street, Vancouver, BC

Learn More

Mood Disorders Association of BC

Find support for people living with a mood disorder. 

Learn More

BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services (BCMHSU)

Providing mental health and substance use treatment to people with severe mental health and substance use challenges.

Learn More

Crisis Centre Distress Services

Help is available. The Crisis Centre provides support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for youth, adults, and seniors.

Learn More
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Call 9-1-1 if you are in an emergency. For mental health support, call:

Crisis Line

Call 1-800-784-2433 or dial 9-8-8 if you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide

Mental Health Support Line

310-6789 (no area code needed)

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Emergency Contacts

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 9-8-8

Mental Health Support

310-6789