Various phone, online, local, provincial and federal mental health resources, support groups, and agencies.


This list is by no means exhaustive.

Online and Phone Resources

Phone Resources

Suicide Support Helpline
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Vancouver Island Crisis Line
24 hour crisis line, chat, and text. VI Crisis Line also provides community mental health information, links to mental health resources and suicide prevention training. Serving Vancouver Island, the islands of the Georgia Strait, and the mainland communities between Powell River and Rivers Inlet. 
Also the contact for the IMCRT team for mental health crises.
1‑888-494-3888

Crisis Text Line
24/7 crisis support from trained Crisis Responders.
Text ‘HOME’ to 686868 

BC211
Mental health and other regional support services for addiction, emergency, children and families, etc. 
Dial ‘211’

Health Link BC – BC811
Physical and mental health services.
Dial ‘811’

Kids Help Phone
24/7 National support service 
1-800-668-6868

KUU-US Crisis Society
Aboriginal/Indigenous crisis line (crisis support for youth, adults, and Elders)
1-800-588-717

Online Resources

Youth in BC
Youth crisis line and online chat

Youth Space
Online chat and email counselling for youth – LGBTQ+ friendly

Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide – “You Are Not Alone” 
Support and resource website for parents, teens, and educators about suicide prevention for teens

7Cups
“World’s largest emotional support system” – also has an app for Android and IOS

Need2
Suicide prevention, education and support

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
Mental health services and support for individuals and families

CMHA BC ‘Bounce Back’
Online resources and skill-building programs for those with mild to moderate depression, anxiety, worry, or stress (includes workbooks and activities for coping and dealing with depression, anxiety, stress, etc.)

Children of Parental Mental Illness
Open-access Australian website with resources for parents with mental illness, children with a parent affected by mental illness, family, friends, and professionals

Mental Health Commission of Canada
Not-for-profit organization funded by Health Canada. The MHCC’s mission is to promote mental health in Canada and work with stakeholders to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems while improving services and support

BC Here to Help
Resources for mental health, substance use, and more

Local Resources

Support Groups

Teens2Twenties Peer Support
Peer support group for youth 15-29 with mental health concerns and issues

Women’s Peer Support
Peer support group for women 25+ with mental health conditions (no official diagnosis needed)

UVSS Peer Support Centre
Mental health peer support services for students (University of Victoria campus)

Victoria Eating Disorder Peer Support
Free peer support for adults 18+ with eating disorders, negative body image, etc. (no official diagnosis needed)

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Peer Support
Peer support group for individuals with BPD (formal diagnosis not needed)

Mood Disorder Support
Victoria-based drop-in peer support groups with individuals with mood disorders (Bipolar, depression, etc.)

Counselling Services

Burns Clinical Life Options Inc.
Counselling services and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (payment plan option available)

Waypoint Counselling
Counselling and referral centre 

Victoria Counselling Services
Professional counselling services

BC Association of Clinical Counsellors 
Registered clinical counsellors

Cascadia Counselling Clinic
Full-service counselling clinic

Income Based/Sliding Scale Cost Counselling

Citizens Counselling Services
Income-based sliding scale counselling

South Island Centre for Counselling and Training
Income-based sliding-scale counselling. Offers Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) skill training program for people with Borderline Personality Disorder and/or emotional dysregulation

Sooke Family Resource Society
Up to 12 free counselling sessions for depression, anxiety, family issues, etc.

Stan Hagen Centre for Families (Quadra Village Salvation Army)
Family and individual counselling services

Indigenous Mental Health Supports

Victoria Native Friendship Centre 
Health services and mental health liaison access

Indigenous Mental Health Services (Saanich area)
Tsawout Health Department

Hulitan Family and Community Services Society 
Indigenous family and child mental health support services

Youth and Family Support Services

Youth Programs 
Mental health support programs for youth 11-18 in Saanich and Oak Bay

The Foundry
Health and social services for youth (12-24), including mental health support and counselling

FamilySmart (formerly the Force Society)
Promotes child and youth mental health and supports families

Mental Health Centres, Day Programs, and Crisis Services

​Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA)
Learn about mental health resources offered by the Vancouver Island Health Authority and how to access them

Anxiety Disorders Clinic (VIHA)
Psychiatric consultations, diagnostic evaluations and treatment recommendations (referral required)

GROW Program
Wellness promotion program for adults 19+ with mental health diagnosis

Bridge Centre
Day activity program for people with mental health issues and cognitive impairment (referral needed)

Eureka Support Society
Resource centre for adults with persistent mental health illness

John Howard Society – Victoria
Mental health support, employment, social justice, and other support services (for youth and adults)

Victoria Mental Health Centre
Crisis and emergency services, psychiatric services, ACT team, anxiety clinics, etc. (referrals required)

USTAT (Urgent Short-Term Assessment and Treatment)
Short-term, crisis-based psychotherapy for acute mental illness (referral needed)

CARES (Central Access and Rapid Engagement Services)
Single-point access for Mental Health and Substance Use Services (some walk-in services, some referral-based)

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT Team)
Individualized mental health support services for those with serious mental illnesses

Mental Wellness Day Program (VIHA)
Recovery-oriented, group-based psychosocial rehabilitation program

Live Life to the Full
Self-referral 8-session CBT based course through Canadian Mental Health Association

Connections Place
Education, employment and recreation for people diagnosed with a mental illness

Substance Use and Addiction Support Services

AIDS Vancouver Island – Victoria (AVI)
Harm reduction support services, safe drug use equipment, and support for individuals with a positive diagnosis of HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis C. Free Naloxone kits available on site

The Harbour (VIHA)
Counselling, medical services and addiction support

SOLID
Education, support and advocacy for people who use substances

Sobering and Assessment Centre 
Assessment and shelter for ‘inebriated’ clients (less than 24 hours, referral or walk-in)

Umbrella Society
Addiction counselling, outreach, housing support

Connections
Recovery-based drop-in through Umbrella and VIHA 

Housing and Shelters

CoolAid Society
Housing, emergency shelter and integrated health care

Pacifica Housing
Housing-first support services

Beacon Community Services
Subsidized independent housing

Shelters
Various Victoria-area emergency and homeless shelters

Supportive Housing
Victoria-area supportive housing initiatives 

Local and BC-Based Advocacy Services

Victoria Mental Illness Awareness Council
Non-government organization for people with lived experience of emotional issues and mental health

Independent Mental Health Advocacy 
Independent mental health advocacy support services 

​Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS) 
Free, face-to-face legal advocacy for people on disability, income assistance, etc.

Victoria Disability Resource Centre
Non-profit, grassroots agency run for and by persons with disabilities

BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre (BC PIAC)
Not-for-profit law office (Vancouver)

Action Committee for People with Disabilities
Not-for-profit legal services (help with forms, legal clinics, etc.)

Disability Alliance BC
Workshops, applications, disability support, etc.

Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition 
Human rights complaint filing support service

BC Ombudperson
Investigation of unfair administrative actions (individual complaints)

Legal Aid BC
Free legal aid for individuals considered ‘low income’

The Law Centre (University of Victoria)
Legal assistance, advice and representation for low income clients

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