August 4, 2020

Mental Health and Wellness Resources

We all need to do our part to help stop the spread of COVID-19. We are in this together and we will get through this together.

Health Canada has created a large collection of resources to help keep you and your families safe during the time of COVID-19.

You can find all of the below resources in multiple languages and more information at canada.ca/coronavirus

You can sign up for email updates from the Government of Canada to get the latest information about COVID-19. Click here to get email updates.

If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 you can take a self-assessment from Health Canada and follow the directions based on your results.

Wellness Together Canada

Taking care of your mental health is very important than during times of hardship. COVID-19 has created challenging circumstances for Canadians across the country and to help Canadians manage our government launched the Wellness Together Canada portal. Wellness Together Canada offers Canadians different levels of support depending on their need, ranging from information and self-assessment tools, to the opportunity to chat with peer support workers and other professionals.

Fear, stress and worry are normal in a crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many changes. You might feel like you're no longer in control of things. It is normal to feel sad, stressed, confused, scared or worried. People react in different ways. Some common feelings include:

a sense of being socially excluded or judged
concern about your children's education and well-being
fear of getting sick with COVID-19 or of making others sick
worry about losing your job, not being able to work or finances
fear of being apart from loved ones due to isolation or physical distancing
helplessness, boredom, loneliness and depression due to isolation or physical distancing

Tips for taking care of yourself

Stay informed but take breaks from social media and the news.
Practice physical distancing, but stay socially connected to friends and family through:
- email
- phone calls
- video chats
- social media
Practice mindfulness by:
- stretching
- meditating
- taking deep breaths
Try to:
- eat healthy meals
- exercise regularly
- get plenty of sleep
Follow safe food handling and cooking practices to keep you and your family safe by killing the virus and lowering your risk of infection.
Think about how to use any unexpected flexibility in your daily routine.
Focus on the positive aspects of your life and things you can control.
Be kind and compassionate to yourself and others.
If you can, limit your use of substances.
- If you do use substances, practice safer use and good hygiene.

More ways to get help

If you need help, you can call:

your primary health provider
a registered psychologist
another mental health provider in your community

You may also find the following contacts helpful.

Kids Help Phone

Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868.

Available 24 hours a day to Canadians aged 5 to 29 who want confidential and anonymous care from professional counsellors.

Download the Always There app for additional support or access the Kids Help Phone website.

Hope for Wellness Help Line

Call 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or connect to the online Hope for Wellness chat.

Available to all Indigenous peoples across Canada who need immediate crisis intervention. Experienced and culturally sensitive help line counsellors can help if you want to talk or are distressed.

Telephone and online counselling are available in English and French. On request, telephone counselling is also available in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.

Crisis Services Canada

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566.

Available to all Canadians seeking support. Visit Crisis Services Canada for the distress centres and crisis organizations nearest you.

For more mental health and wellness resources from the Government of Canada click here or visit the links below.