12 Calgary Resources for Crisis and Mental Health

Calgary Resources for Crisis and Mental Health

 

Life is full of unexpected events like losing a job, a loved one or a relationship. Those “grey days” can pile up, affecting our emotional and mental health, which ultimately affects all parts of our life if left unchecked.

Thankfully, we don’t have to weather the storm alone. There are a number of resources to help, in Calgary, Alberta, and across Canada. For Calgarians in crisis or in need of mental health and addiction support, these resources provide education, assessment, medical attention and other useful resources.

And remember, our experienced team is always here so you can find the best time and book your Free 15-minute phone consult if you’d like one.

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Quick Links:

1) Distress Centre

2) Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Calgary Region

3) Addiction and Mental Health Helplines

4) Urgent Mental Health in Urgent Care

5) Access Mental Health

6) Wellness Together

7) Adult Addiction & Mental Health Services

8) Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse

9) JB Music Therapy

10) Help in Tough Times

11) Togetherall

12) Kids Help Phone

1) Distress Centre

Distress Centre - Calgary Mental Health Resources
Photo: Robyn Romano, CEO

Website: https://www.distresscentre.com

Phone: 403-266-HELP (4357)

The Distress Centre is a 24-hour crisis line available in Calgary. They responded to more than 150,000 contacts in 2021 alone. This resource is useful if you need someone to talk to, or you’re searching for recommended resources when in a crisis situation. In their own words, this is what they do: “We do not define crisis. We do not judge. Anyone can call us day or night.”

The Distress Centre can be contacted by phone, email, text, or online chat during the day. Since most people are more comfortable writing things down than speaking out loud, which makes these options very useful for people of all personalities.

2) Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Calgary Region

CMHA Calgary - Mental Health Resources
Photo: CMHA helping host an Acts of Kindness event.

Website: http://cmha.calgary.ab.ca

Phone: 403-297-1700

The CMHA is a non-profit organization that builds awareness about mental health and provides individuals dealing with mental health issues with advocacy, education, housing, counselling and a variety of programs.

Whether you or a family member are dealing with substance abuse, mental health challenges or even the loss of a loved one, the CMHA Calgary chapter can help with emotional support, life coaching and programming, as well as referrals to other community resources.

The Calgary CMHA is more than just a help line, as their downtown location has support groups, in-person sessions, and other useful offerings. This makes it great for people who prefer to connect face-to-face.

3) Addiction AND MENTAL HEALTH HelplineS

Addiction Helpline at: 1-866-332-2322

Mental Health Helpline at: 1-877-303-2642

The Addiction Helpline and Mental Health Helplines are available 24/7, for any Albertan suffering from addiction or in need of guidance or assistance with their current mental health. The helplines are confidential and provide support and referral to community services for individuals suffering from alcohol, drug and gambling issues, various mood disorders such as depression or anxiety, and more.

4) Urgent Mental Health in Urgent Care

urgent mental health - Calgary Mental Health Resources
Photo: Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre (Yolanda Lie/Wikipedia)

Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre: 1213 – 4th Street SW

Crisis mental health assessment and support is available at the Sheldon M. Chumir urgent care centre in Calgary. It is open 24/7, every day of the year, with mental health assistance available at all hours as well.

5) Access Mental Health

access mental health calgary

Website: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/services/page11443.aspx

Phone: 403-943-1500

It can be difficult to navigate all the community resources available to help with mental health – that’s where Access Mental Health comes in. Its clinicians offer information, advice and referrals to Alberta Health Services programs. Access Mental Health is a non-urgent resource and is available during regular business hours.

Click on the website for a list of links, numbers, wellness toolkits, and other resources to help depending on your specific situation.

6) WELLNESS TOGETHER

wellness together - calgary mental health resources
Photo: (from Wellness Together)

Website: www.wellnesstogether.ca.

Wellness Together is a free, Canada-wide initiative created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, funded by the federal government and available 24/7. Collaborating with many other organizations, it is a wellness-focused, ongoing resource available to all Canadians wherever they may be.

More recently, they introduced PocketWell, a companion app that helps track your mood, complete emotional self-assessments, and reflect on your overall mood and well-being.

7) ADULT ADDICTION & MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Website: Inform Alberta Help Link

From urgent resources to interventions, relapse management, rehabilitation, and long-term treatment, every person’s mental health journey looks different and will require a unique approach. That’s why the comprehensive listings at Inform Alberta are so useful – you can choose what kind of service you are looking for and find a wide variety of mental health organizations in Calgary that can help.

8) CALGARY COMMUNITIES AGAINST SEXUAL ABUSE

CCASA - Calgary Resources For Mental Health
Photo: (from calgarycasa.com)

Website: www.calgarycasa.com.

For more than 25 years, the CCASA group has supported Calgarians and provided educational services to those affected by sexual abuse and sexual assault. Whether it happened in the distant past or it is a recent occurrence, they lead the people of Calgary to the right resources that can help them overcome the trauma. They are especially focused on the first week – 168 hours – after a sexual assault, with a dedicated team responding to such calls.

They also offer free educational training and workshops, helping people of all backgrounds and experience to better handle and prevent sexual violence.

9) JB MUSIC THERAPY

JB Music Therapy Calgary
Photo: (Music therapists leading a Fundrum session – from JB Music Therapy)

Everyone is different, and you may feel like none of these options are quite right for you. If that’s the case, you might be someone who benefits from a less clinical approach, like the sessions from JB Music Therapy.

Many people find music to be calming, soothing, or relaxing in times of great stress. In fact, the science of music and its connection to emotion, happiness, pain reduction, and other mental matters is well-documented. The field of music therapy uses this idea – even for non-musicians – to create a communication bridge, where the music acts as a medium for processing emotional experiences like trauma and grief.

If you find the idea of one-on-one, deep conversations challenging, this may be an option for you. Find out more at www.jbmusictherapy.com.

10) Help in tough times

Website: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/amh/page16759.aspx

More a listing of resources than a helpline in itself, the Help in Tough Times page is an excellent place to get links, phone numbers, and guidance for a wide variety of stressful situations.

Many of the links listed above are on this page, as well as many others to cover things like disaster assistance, employment loss, residential school survivor support, finding shelter, and much more.

11) Togetherall

togetherall Calgary
Photo: (from togetherall.com)

Website: https://togetherall.com/en-ca/

Togetherall is a safe online community for anonymous support. It is available not only in Calgary, but across Canada as well, with millions of people gaining free access through their schools and workplaces.

It’s monitored 24/7 by licensed clinicians, ensuring a safe and supportive environment that can reach major demographics as well as more marginalized groups that may not be comfortable reaching out through more traditional avenues.

12) Kids Help Phone

Website: https://kidshelpphone.ca/

Kids Help Phone is a 24/7 mental health service, offering confidential support in both English and French to youth across Canada. It’s also free, removing a barrier for people who may worry about affordability.

They primarily offer mental health tips and information, crisis support, and professional counselling for youth in distress. They also provide support forums, a directory of auxiliary services from other organizations, and general wellness support.

Mental Health Counselling in Calgary

If you are struggling with your mental health and are seeking more long-term support, certain types of counselling may be a good option to consider. At Your Counselling, we provide support to families, individuals and children who are experiencing distress, anxiety, depression, addiction and anger. Call us today for a free consultation and together we can develop a treatment plan that will help you get back to living a happy, healthy and fulfilling life!