Healing and wellness resources

Discussion of the Canadian Indian Residential School system and survivors’ experiences focuses on distressing content, and may prompt emotional reactions and difficult thoughts and feelings. This is perfectly normal when working through trauma. If you find yourself overwhelmed, support is just a call or text away through one of the following programs.

Resources

Survivors and family members

Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) services include grief and loss counselling, crisis counselling, trauma counselling, Family and Group counselling and other supports including Traditional Healing Methods & Medicines, for more information please visit their website. Or, phone the IRSSS Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 (Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week)

Indian Residential Schools Mental Health Support Program (Government of Canada) provides mental and emotional health support services to eligible former Indian Residential School students and their families throughout all phases of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement, for more information phone Toll-Free 1-877-477-0775.

Indigenous peoples and community members

First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Community Supports Guide includes information on the FNHA cultural wellness and healing grant, mental health and cultural supports, including 24-hour crisis lines and counselling, traditional and cultural supports, and provincial and federal funding.

FNHA First Nations Health Benefits Mental Health Providers List If you have questions about providers you can call the IRS toll-free number at 1-877-477-0775 Monday to Friday 8 am – 4 pm or download the service provider list.

Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Phone and chat counselling is available in English, French, and Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut on request.

Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or use the chat box on their website.

KUU-US Crisis Line Society is a First Nations Health Authority-affiliated crisis line providing support to Indigenous people throughout British Columbia.

Call the toll-free 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-588-8717. For more information visit their website.

Crisis Centre BC. If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or thinking about suicide, call or chat online with a crisis responder any time: 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE), (24 hours a day), crisiscentre.bc.ca

  • Anywhere in BC 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433
  • Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789
  • Vancouver Coastal Regional Distress Line: 604-872-3311

Students & Learners

We Matter is a place for Indigenous young people to turn for uplift, support, or reminder that you matter. Get help now.

Here2Talk Accessible anywhere in the world, this service provides free, 24/7 single-session counselling by phone or online chat for all UBC students.

Developing Personal and Academic Resilience is a health strategy and self-care workbook for post-secondary students.

MD Students

Students in the MD Undergraduate Program can access additional support including confidential and personal advising through the following:


Postgraduate Medical Residents

Postgraduate medical residents can access additional free and confidential counselling as well as other supports through the following:


Graduate Students & Postdoctoral Trainees

Students and trainees across graduate and postdoctoral programs can access additional resources offered through the following:


UBC Vancouver

Counselling Services

  • Counselling for Indigenous students. Professional and culturally relevant counselling is available at the First Nations Longhouse and at the UBC Counselling Services Centre in Brock Hall. Contact the Aboriginal Student and Community Development Officer at the First Nations House of Learning, 604-822-8941 or fnhl.community@ubc.ca.
  • Counselling for all students is available via 1040 Brock Hall, 1874 East Mall, Vancouver, call 604-822-3811.


Student Services:

  • Find supports and resources available through Student Services.


AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre

  • Open daily from 8 am-10 pm, the SASC provides services to Survivors of sexualized violence as well as their friends and family. This includes people of all genders, students, staff, faculty and all others connected to the UBC-Vancouver campus community.
  • Support can be accessed by drop-in or by scheduling an appointment. Call 604-827-5180 or email sasc@ams.ubc.ca. For more information about available services, visit their website.


Wellness Centre

  • Located in the UBC Life Building, the Wellness Centre is a peer-hosted space that offers many wellbeing programs for students.


Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office

  • A confidential place for those who have experienced, or been impacted by, any form of sexual or gender-based violence, harassment, or harm, regardless of where or when it took place.


UBC Okanagan

UBC faculty and staff

UBC offers many health and wellbeing tools and resources to help support you:


Visit the UBC HR Health & Wellbeing website for a full list of resources and supports.

Family Services of Greater Vancouver offers general counselling. Please phone 604-874-2938 to speak to an intake worker to connect you with the best services for you.

BC Bereavement Hotline offers free and confidential telephone support for individuals experiencing loss and grief. Visit their website or call 1-877-779-2223.

Crisis Centre BC. If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or thinking about suicide, call or chat online with a crisis responder any time: 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE), (24 hours a day), crisiscentre.bc.ca

  • Anywhere in BC 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433
  • Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789
  • Vancouver Coastal Regional Distress Line: 604-872-3311