Observed and recognized since 1949, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. During this month Canadians are encouraged to expand their knowledge about mental illnesses and how they affect peoples’ live differently. Below is a list of resources and content related to mental health, and mental health awareness.
Stories in the Creative Industries Sector
Orca Books: Heads Up: Changing Minds on Mental Health by Melanie Siebert
Featuring real-life stories of people who have found hope and meaning in the midst of life’s struggles, Heads Up: Changing Minds on Mental Health is the go-to guide for teenagers who want to know about mental health, mental illness, trauma and recovery.
Read Local BC: Mental Health Month
A curated selection of B.C.-published books that highlight the challenges facing those who struggle with mental health and celebrate the victories of the community.
If you or someone you know is struggling you can seek professional mental health help through the following resources:
Support in British Columbia
Government of British Columbia’s Mental Health and Substance Use Supports provides a range of specialized mental health and substance use services for adults across the province.
HealthLinkBC’s Mental Health & Substance Use Resources connects you to your Health Authority and numerous mental health and substance use related services and resources available to British Columbians.
BounceBack BC is a free skill-building program designed to help manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress, or worry.
Here to Help: Mental Health and Substance Use Information You Can Trust provides information related to mental health and substance use. Their website includes personal stories, self-help resources and information about getting help now.
Canadian Mental Health Association – BC provides mental health promotion and mental illness recovery-focused programs and services for people of all ages and their families.
Crisis Centre BC is dedicated to providing help and hope to individuals, organizations, and communities spanning the spectrum of crisis support, suicide prevention, and postvention.
Calltime Mental Health is an initiative by British Columbia’s motion picture industry unions to assist workers and employers grappling with mental health and addiction issues both in and out of the workplace.
Support across Canada
Contact Crisis Service Canada: Call 1.833.456.4566 or Text 45645
Crisis Services Canada is a network of existing distress, crisis and suicide prevention line services, and one of the three founding partners of Talk Suicide.
Contact the Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Crisis Text Line powered by Kids Help Phone is a service partnership between Kids Help Phone and technology pioneer Crisis Text Line, providing young people in Canada with the first-ever, 24/7, free nationwide texting service.
Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support provides 24-hour virtual, free and confidential mental health and substance use resources to all Canadians, in over 200 languages.
Anxiety Canada’s Mindshift® CBT App uses scientifically proven strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use active steps to take charge of your anxiety.
Resources from Unison created by the music industry, for the music industry, delivering life-saving emergency financial services and professional counselling that offer much-needed hope to those in need.
The AFC is the lifeline for Canada’s entertainment industry. Through compassionate support, they help Canadian entertainment professionals maintain their health, dignity and ability to work.
