Crisis and Support Lines

Life- threatening Emergency 9-1-1

General Support

  • Drug and Poison Control: 1-800-567-8911 (Available 24 hours)
    • Call if you are concerned about a possible poisoning or exposure to a toxic substance.
  • VictimLinkBC: 1-800-563-0808 (call toll-free or text, available 24/7)
    • Email: VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca
    • Provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence, including victims of human trafficking exploited for labour or sexual services.
    • Multilingual service is available in up to 150 languages, including many Indigenous languages.
    • Trained staff can connect you to a network of community, social, health, justice and government resources, including: Victim services, transition houses, counselling resources, information on the justice system, and safety
  • BC Hate Crimes: 1-855-462-5733 (toll free)
    • A provincial resource that provides assistance and support to local police departments investigating hate crimes and hate incidents.
    • Email: BC_HATE_CRIMES@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
  • For more information on reporting hate crimes in BC, visit Report Hate Crime BC.
    • Multilingual support is available.
  • WorkSafe BC Crisis Line     1.800.624.2928 (24/7) If you or your family is in emotional crisis and you’ve been injured at work.
  • Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline 1-833-900-1010 Available 24/7 in over 200 languages.
  • BC Wildfire Report a Wildfire Line: 1 800 663-5555 or (*5555 from a cell phone) Available 24/7.
  • Vancouver Island Health Authority Hospice and End of Life Care
  • BC Cancer Agency – Patient & Family Counselling​
  • BC Bereavement Help Line   (weekdays 9am – 5pm) 1-877-779-2223
  • For Housing support visit the Housing webpage here

Mental Health & Addiction Support 

Youth

  • Here2Talk: 1-877-857-3397 (24-hour support for BC postsecondary students).
  • Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868  (24/7) For children and teens
  • Child Abuse Crisis Line BC: 1-800-663-9122 (Available 24 hours)
    • If you think a child or youth (under 19 years of age) is being abused or neglected, you have the legal duty to report your concern to a child welfare worker.
  • Kids Grief – A bereavement line for children and youth under 25
  • Youthspace (6pm to midnight for Canadian youth under 30) ​text 778-783-0177
  • FoundryBC Crisis Line  1-800-784-2433 – Provides counselling and peer support for youth ages 12-24
  • Sexual Health Hotline – Clinic staff will answer basic general questions anonymously via text . 250-812-9374
  • Black Youth Helpline  Multicultural Helpline & Services for Children, Youth, Families, School Boards, and youth serving organizations. Email: info@blackyouth.ca Phone: 1-833-294-8650 (9AM – 10PM ET)
  •  Pflag Canada   Founded by parents who wished to help themselves and their family members understand and accept their LGBTQ2S children Email: info@pflagcanada.ca Call: 1-888-530-6777
  • Sexual Health Services Also see ISH Community Resource Directory below.

Community Resources

  • Dial 2-1-1 24/7 to access supports in your community or visit BC 211 and search by specific type of service including emergency shelter, harm reduction and food services.
  • HealthLink BC – Speak to a nurse. dietician. pharmacist or exercise professional- Dial 8-1-1. Not for emergencies. 24/7. Available in English, Punjabi, Mandarin and Cantonese. Translation services also available.
  • Island Sexual Health Community Resource Directory

LGBTQ+

Indigenous

  • KUU-UUS Crisis Line 1-800-588-8717 (24/7) For Indigenous people on Vancouver Island and across the province.
  • Hope for Wellness Help Line:1-855-242-3310 
    • Offers mental health counselling and crisis intervention to Indigenous people across Canada.
  • Indian Residential School Crisis Line:1-866-925-4419
    • A national service for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their or their family’s residential school experience.
  • InKamatsiaqtut Help Line: 1-800-265-3333
    • Inuk Mental Health Support line
  • Métis Crisis Line:1-833-638-4722 (1-833-MétisBC)
    • Métis Nation BC with KUU-US Society line is available for immediate crisis intervention, and a variety of other issues like relationship troubles, depression and anxiety, financial issues, bullying, and peer pressure support.
  • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Crisis Line 1-844-413-6649 (24/7) For those in need of immediate emotional assistance. Cree, Ojibway, Inuktitut, English, French language options.

Women & Reproductive Support

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foreign Language Crisis Lines

Led by trained volunteers, the toll-free help lines provide non-English-speaking individuals with confidential emotional support and referrals to community resources that can support them to address a wide range of life issues.

  • Mandarin Line: 1(888)-721-0596 / Ext.1, seven days per week from 10 am to 10 pm
  • Cantonese Line: 1(888)-721-0596 / Ext.2, seven days per week from 10 am to 10 pm
  • Korean Line: 1 (888)-721-0596 / Ext.3, Mon – Fri: 10 am – 8 pm, Sat – Sun: 10 am – 5 pm
  • Farsi-Dari Line: 1 (888)-721-0596 / Ext.4, Mon – Fri: 10 am – 8 pm, Sat – Sun: 10 am – 5 pm
  • Ukrainian Line: 1 (888)-721-0596 / Ext.5, Mon – Fri: 10 am – 8 pm, Sat – Sun: 10 am – 5 pm

Seniors

  • Seniors’ Distress Line: 604-872-1234 (24-hour support for seniors and people who are concerned about an older adult).
  • Seniors First BC: 1-866-437-1940 (toll free crisis line) or 604-437-1940
    • For seniors and those who care for them to talk to a trained intake worker about abuse, mistreatment, or receive information and support on issues related to senior wellbeing.
    • Phone lines operate on weekdays 8am to 8pm and weekends 10am to 5:30pm (excluding statutory holidays).
    • Language interpretation is available Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm.
  • Office of the Seniors Advocate Information and Referral service are  available by phone at 1-877-952-3181 (local 250-952-3181), Monday to Friday, from 8:30 – 4:30 pm.