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Help Phone Lines

If you are in need of immediate help, call 9-1-1.

Crisis Line

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.

Opioid Treatment Access Line

1-833-804-8111

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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    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
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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.

    Learn more
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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.

    Learn more
  • Articles

Main navigation

  • 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
  • Articles

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HelpStartsHere

Self-Harm

Sometimes, people may hurt themselves purposefully to cope with negative feelings and thoughts. This is called self-harm.

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Mental health

  • Anxiety
    • What to Do About Anxiety
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    • 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

Often, people try to keep themselves as safe as possible, and avoid pain or hurt. But sometimes, a person may self-harm (or hurt themselves on purpose) as a way to deal with difficult feelings, thoughts or trauma they are experiencing.

Self-harm is not a mental illness and does not mean that someone is developing a mental illness.

A person who self-harms does not hurt themselves to try to end their life. They may be experiencing high levels of distress and feel like it is the only way to temporarily relieve the feelings of hurt, overwhelm, and sadness that they may be feeling. However, there is significant risk involved with self-harming behaviour. Someone may hurt themselves more than they intended.

People self-harm for different reasons and in different ways. Find out more about why or in what ways someone may self-harm.

People at any stage of life may self-harm. Youth may self-injure to cope with intense emotions, peer pressure, or social challenges. Learn more about youth and self-injury. Self-harm can also be more common for people experiencing a mental illness or are coping with trauma.

If you are concerned that someone you love may be self-harming, find out more about how to recognize self-harm and what you can do.

How to find help

If you are thinking of harming yourself or are at risk due to injuries from self-harming, it is very important to reach out and speak to a friend or loved one. If you are a parent or caregiver who has found out that a child or youth is self-injuring, reach out and have a conversation.

Self-harm can cause serious injury or become a habit that a person may do often and can be challenging to stop.

There are available resources that can help to keep you safe, like counselling and self-help. A medical professional, like a doctor, can support you to find the right treatment path for you.

If you are concerned about your self-injury or someone else self-injuring, reach out to a mental health professional for non-judgmental support. There is help available.

If you need immediate help, call 9-1-1, or go to a hospital emergency room. If you have questions about medical attention, call 8-1-1 and talk to a registered nurse.

Resources

Showing 4 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

Foundry Centres

Foundry

Offers health and social services for young people to access mental health care, substance use services, youth and family peer supports, primary care, and social services. Services are provided together in a single place to make it easier for young people to find the care, connection and support they need.

Centres provide safe, non-judgmental care, information and resources in a youth-friendly space and work to reach young people earlier - before health challenges become problematic.

Multiple Locations

Learn More

Urgent and Primary Care Centres

Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCCs) provide access to same-day, urgent, non-emergency health care. 

Learn More

HealthLink BC (8-1-1)

Free, reliable non-emergency health information and advice available by phone (8-1-1), online, or mobile app.

Learn More
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Emergency Contact Information

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