Learn about helplines for mental health and wellness crises, emergencies, and general information.
Please note that all helplines are staffed by English speakers, but language interpretation services are available. See our step-by-step guide on how to request language interpretation services under applicable resources.
Note: This article is not a replacement for professional medical or clinical advice. We cannot provide official referrals for resources that require documented referrals from licensed service providers to access. Some resources on this website do include referral services from licensed professionals.
Crisis Lines
If you are in distress and require immediate support, contact one of these crisis phone lines:
BC Crisis Line: 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE)
- Call for mental health and wellness crisis support.
- Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Vancouver, Richmond, North Shore, Sea to Sky line: 604-872-3311
- Sunshine Coast, Bella Coola, Howe Sound line: 1-866-661-3311
- Seniors Distress Line: 604-872-1234
- Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789
- Online chat service for youth (12pm-1am): www.YouthInBC.com
- Online chat service for adults (12pm-1am): www.crisiscentrechat.ca
- Website: www.crisiscentre.bc.ca
- Languages: English and over 140 languages.
How do I request for help in my language, and what can I expect?
- When you call this line, a service provider will pick up.
- You must request an interpreter. Please say: “Interpreter please.”
- You can then request your language.
- For Mandarin: “Mandarin.”
- For Cantonese: “Cantonese.”
- For Vietnamese: “Vietnamese.”
- For Tagalog: “Tagalog.”
- You can then request your language.
- You will wait while the person on the phone searches for a language interpreter. Once the interpreter comes on, they will translate the conversation between you and the English speaker.
Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
- Call for mental health and wellness crisis support on a phone line operated by and for transgender people.
- Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Website: www.translifeline.org
- Languages: English
Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW): 604-255-6344
- Serves survivors of sexualized violence (including trans and cis women, Two Spirit people, and trans, intersex, or non-binary people of any gender).
- Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Toll free line: 1-877-392-7583
- Website: www.wavaw.ca
- Languages: English
Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS): 604-687-1867
- Serves survivors of domestic violence (including trans and cis women, Two Spirit people, and trans, intersex, or non-binary people of any gender).
- Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Website: www.bwss.org
KUU-US Crisis Line: 250-723-2323 (Extension: 229)
- Call for mental health and wellness crisis support, on a phone line operated by and for Indigenous peoples.
- Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Serves all BC. Based in Port Alberni.
- Website: www.kuu-uscrisisline.ca
- Languages: English
Informational lines
For non-emergency, non-life threatening situations.
Note: If you are in distress and require immediate support, contact one of the numbers in our “Crisis Phone Lines” section above. Phone lines listed under “Informational phone lines” provide short-term support and referrals to other resources, and are not for crises or emergencies.
National Eating Disorder line: 1-866-NEDIC-20
- Serves people who have experienced, care for someone with, or want to access resources related to, eating disorders.
- Toronto line: 416-340-4156
- Online chat services (Monday - Thursday 9am - 9pm, Friday 9am-5pm)
- Website: www.nedic.ca
- Languages: English